By: Saidu Jalloh
Sierra Leone has further solidified its leadership role in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) infrastructure agenda as Mr. Alpha K. Bangura, Director of Public Investment Management, chaired a two-day high-level consultative meeting in Accra. The meeting aimed to assess and accelerate the implementation of the ECOWAS Regional Infrastructure Master Plan (RIMP).
The engagement, held from August 12–13, 2025, was organized by the ECOWAS Project Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU) and was led by Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, represented by Mr. Bangura. His appointment as chairman underscores Sierra Leone’s growing influence within ECOWAS, with the country assuming a key leadership role in advancing regional infrastructure priorities.
The RIMP, a 25-year strategic framework (2020–2045), outlines 201 priority projects across the transport, energy, ICT, and water resources sectors. The plan includes 146 investment projects and 55 soft projects, with a total investment estimate of USD 131.2 billion.
During the meeting, delegates from ECOWAS Member States reviewed progress on the plan, addressed key challenges, and adopted a series of actionable recommendations, each with clear timelines, to expedite implementation.
The PPDU, established in October 2014 in Lomé, Togo, is a specialized ECOWAS agency tasked with identifying, selecting, and preparing priority infrastructure projects. Additionally, the PPDU mobilizes financing, strengthens institutional capacities, and promotes public-private partnerships across the region.
At the meeting’s conclusion, Mr. Bangura reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to driving the ECOWAS infrastructure agenda. “Our shared vision for a connected and economically integrated West Africa depends on the timely delivery of strategic infrastructure. This requires not only effective planning but also sustained collaboration among all Member States and partners,” he emphasized.
The recommendations made during the meeting are expected to inform ongoing regional strategies aimed at mobilizing resources and ensuring that the Master Plan delivers tangible benefits to millions across West Africa.