By: Aminata Turay
Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, on Friday, March 27, 2026, welcomed ministers and delegates to the 20th Meeting of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Ministers responsible for Telecommunications, ICT, and Digitalization, held at Lagoonda. He emphasized that regional cooperation must translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
Speaking on behalf of President Julius Maada Bio, the Vice President thanked participants for attending and underscored that digital transformation should create jobs, expand opportunities, and improve everyday life across West Africa.
He told the meeting that the region must urgently move toward a single digital market, noting that fragmented systems and policies continue to limit growth and increase the cost of doing business within the region.
Dr. Jalloh warned that in a rapidly evolving global economy, stronger regional integration is no longer optional but essential for securing economic stability and shared prosperity.
He called on ministers to move beyond policy discussions to practical implementation, emphasizing that progress should be measured by real impact on people and businesses. While noting that Sierra Leone is making strides in digital transformation and cybersecurity, he stressed that lasting impact will depend on collective regional action. He urged member states to work together to unlock opportunities for citizens across ECOWAS.
Minister of Communications, Technology, and Innovation, Salima Monorma Bah, commended technical experts for laying a strong foundation and urged ministers to focus on implementing agreed frameworks to accelerate progress across member states.
She noted that while digital investments and regional frameworks in areas such as cybersecurity, data protection, and e-government have expanded, significant gaps remain in interoperability and cross-border functionality.
Differences in systems and regulations, she said, continue to limit digital payments, services, and business expansion beyond national borders.
The Minister stressed that the next phase of progress must prioritize coordination, trust, and practical implementation. She also warned that emerging challenges, such as artificial intelligence and misinformation, require coordinated regional responses to ensure a secure and functional digital ecosystem.
ECOWAS Commissioner, Habibu Bappah, speaking on behalf of the Commission President, praised the country’s commitment to regional integration and noted that the meeting reflects a shared ambition to build a unified digital market across the region.
He stated that the region has made steady progress since 2024, including strengthened cybersecurity cooperation, roaming agreements, and the development of a regional e-government strategy to improve cross-border services.
The Commissioner urged ministers to endorse key decisions from the meeting, stressing that continued coordination and effective implementation are vital to building a secure, competitive, and integrated digital ecosystem for West Africa.
