By Saidu Jalloh
The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), headed by Minister Kenyeh Barlay, in collaboration with the Parliamentary Committee on Planning and Economic Development, marked the 49th anniversary of the ECOWAS Commission with a series of events across Sierra Leone. This celebration commemorates the original signing of the multilateral treaty by 16 member states in Lagos, Nigeria, and the revised treaty by the current 15 member states in Cotonou, Benin, on July 24, 1993.
The festivities included media engagements, visits to ECOWAS-supported project sites, and the distribution of relief materials to orphanages, aiming to raise awareness about ECOWAS Day and underscore the organization’s contributions to Sierra Leone. Minister Barlay, alongside Development Secretary Peter N. Sam-Kpakra and ECOWAS National Office head Komba Momoh, joined Parliamentary Committee members in visiting the ECOWAS Logistics Military Depot in Lungi and the Kono University of Science and Technology project site.
Minister Barlay expressed gratitude for ECOWAS’s role in supporting democracy, good governance, and development in Sierra Leone. “ECOWAS has played a pivotal role in supporting democracy and good governance, including election monitoring, mediation, diplomatic missions, and peacekeeping efforts,” she stated.
Sierra Leone has significantly benefited from its ECOWAS membership, receiving support from the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) during the civil war and through various development initiatives. Current ECOWAS projects include the construction of Kono University, scholarships for academically excellent girls, the upcoming Joint Border Post at Jendema, and food and nutrition assistance for flood victims. The ECOWAS Volunteer Program is also providing essential skills in education and healthcare to rural communities, while the West African Power Pool Project is expanding energy provision.
Development Secretary Sam-Kpakra emphasized the importance of local ownership of development projects and encouraged students to take their education seriously. Hon. Peter Yamba Koroma, Chairman of the Development Committee, praised the contributions of ECOWAS and MoPED for advancing the government’s development agenda.
Col. Dr. Bala Mohamed (Rtd), Commandant at the Logistics Depot, thanked President Julius Maada Bio and the people of Sierra Leone for their commitment to the project. Edward Gandi, Consultant for Kono University of Science and Technology, called for the expedited release of ECOWAS funds to accelerate construction.
The event concluded with an interactive session where students and school pupils engaged with the delegation, asking questions and sharing their thoughts on ECOWAS’s impact in Sierra Leone.
