The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) National Office in Sierra Leone has ended two days of stakeholders’ sensitization campaigns in the North-West of the country.
The sensitization campaigns, held at the District Council Hall in Makeni on 6th November 2025 and the Provincial Secretary’s Office in Port Loko on 7th November 2025, were on ECOWAS and its interventions in Sierra Leone.
The two events attracted over 134 participants from civil society organizations, teachers, nurses the physically challenged, security forces, women, youths, Traders and Drivers Unions and Local Councils among others.
In Port Loko District, the Provincial Secretary, Mr. Augustine Forbie commended ECOWAS for the initiative highlighting emerging issues like climate change, deforestation and global warming that are affecting the country and noted that participants were drawn from across the board.
Earlier, the Head of the ECOWAS National Office in Sierra Leone, Mr. Komba Momoh, introduced the newly-appointed ECOWAS Ambassador in Sierra Leone, Mr. John Azumah.
He also disclosed at both events that ECOWAS is for all, that the event is to bring the organization at the doorsteps of the people and that such sensitization campaigns would continue.
The ECOWAS Ambassador in Sierra Leone, Mr. John Azumah underscored the need for the people to know about the work and activities of ECOWAS in Sierra Leone, commended President Julius Maada Bio, Chairman of ECOWAS, for his appointment and the confidence reposed in him by the entire region to maintain peace and security.
He also gave a detailed background about the founding of ECOWAS in 1972 championed by the former Nigerian Head of State, Yakubu Gowan and the then Togolese President, Gnassingbe Eyadema revealing that during that period, both Heads of States toured the Region in support of the integration idea and that on the 28th May 1975, a treaty was signed in Lagos for the formation of ECOWAS.
The Ambassador continued that ECOWAS wanted to improve standards, promote trade and economic cooperation among Member States for meaningful happy lives of the people of West Africa in addition to maintaining peace and development for the region reiterating that ECOWAS deals with all aspects of development.
Mr. John Azumah further recalled the intervention of the military wing of ECOWAS in Sierra Leone, Liberia and the Ivory Coast, ECOMOG, during the two countries’ civil wars, to restore democracy and good governance, that ECOWAS interventions in Sierra Leone includes the human capital development project, support to women affected by fistula at the Aberdeen Women’s Center and support to agriculture.
He also revealed that other ongoing ECOWAS projects in Sierra Leone are the construction of the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi, construction of the Kono University in Kono, the scholarship award to excellent girls under the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs, construction of a joint border post in Jedema, support to flood victims in Bonthe and Kambia Districts respectively and food and nutrition assistance to underprivileged Sierra Leoneans in selected communities.
“Yenga will soon be a thing of the past after the elections in Guinea next year,” the Ambassador assured.
Highlights of both events were PowerPoint presentations on ECOWAS interventions by Dr. Robert Moikowa who stated among other things that ECOWAS has three official languages: English, French and Portuguese with sixteen Member Countries with a population of 400 million and that three of the countries have left the bloc, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
According to Dr. Moikowa, some of the emerging challenges facing ECOWAS include organized crime, climate change, drug and human trafficking, money laundering, limited capacity, cultural and language diversity, extremists and non-compliance with ECOWAS protocols.
He continued that the ECOWAS vision 2050 is for the bloc to be transformed from a Community of States to a Community of People based on five pillars: governance, the rule of law and economic integration and trade among others and assured that no one will be left behind.
Other dignitaries who made statements included the Regent Paramount Chief of Bekah Loko Chiefdom, Port Loko District, Mr. Foday S. Kanu who assured that they are ready to learn about ECOWAS and disseminate the information to others.
Highlights of both events included the question and answer session, pledges by all the stakeholders to support ECOWAS programs and activities and the vote of thanks by participants.
