By Amin Kef Sesay
President Julius Maada Bio, on the 12th December 2021, addressed the 60th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in Abuja, Nigeria.
President Bio started by conveying warm greetings from the Government and People of the Republic of Sierra Leone further expressing sincere gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Government and People of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for hosting the 60th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of the Heads of State and Government.
He also commended the Leadership of His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana and the Chair of the Authority, for the quality leadership and commitment he has ably and ceaselessly demonstrated.
He also congratulated and thanked the President, Vice President, and Management of the ECOWAS Commission for their peerless service to ECOWAS Member States especially in the area of the institutional reform process.
“Sierra Leone also congratulates the ECOWAS Commission for the adoption of Vision 2050 – a landmark policy document that would transform the region over the next 30 years,” the President stated and called on ECOWAS to fully implement a communication strategy to ensure that the Vision is understood and ‘owned by people of the ECOWAS community’.
He also called for a robust resource- mobilization strategy so that vital programmes are funded recommending how the Commission must also introduce a monitoring and evaluation dashboard to measure the impact of the Vision on the ECOWAS people.
President Bio intimated that Sierra Leone firmly endorses ECOWAS’ mediation efforts for both a return to constitutional order and democratic transition roadmaps for both Guinea and Mali.
“We remain firmly committed to and endorse the efforts of the ECOWAS Commission and the Authority of Heads of State to ensure stability and peace in the ECOWAS region,” he said adding how Sierra Leone’s bilateral engagement with the CRND leadership in the sister Republic of Guinea focuses on supporting a return to constitutional order and security cooperation between the two nations that share a long border.
The President told his colleagues that from the Mano River Union (MRU) Diplomatic, Peace, Security & Democracy Conference convened in Monrovia by H.E. President George Manneh Weah, the MRU Communiqué also complements, supports, re-affirms, and endorses the ECOWAS mediation process and transition agenda for the restoration of constitutional order in Guinea.
He continued to inform how a high-level MRU delegation has since engaged the CNRD military leadership on the imperative for sub-regional security cooperation and joint border patrols.
“I, therefore, urge colleague Heads of State to mandate the MRU to play a complementary support role to the ECOWAS process in Guinea,” President Bio also recommended.
He recalled a consensus by the Authority of Heads of State for the Commission to commence a review of the revised supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance as it relates to the contentious issue of third term mandates and arbitrary changes to electoral laws.
The President urged the Commission to commence a time-bound review of the supplementary protocol in order to restore public trust and confidence in ECOWAS’ commitment to supporting stable, timely, and legitimate democratic transitions.
In that regard, President Bio commended ECOWAS’ efforts in supporting Cape Verde and The Gambia to conduct free, fair, transparent, and credible elections.
He implored his colleagues that their Governments must be seen to promote the all- important voices of women in supporting peace and security in the sub-region.
On the issue of terrorism, President Bio said Sierra Leone will continue to work in close collaboration with ECOWAS to fight and prevent terrorist activities in the region.
He said the established Counter-Terrorism Centre in Sierra Leone is currently working with the United Nations Office on Counter-Terrorism maintaining that Member States response must be nimble and adequate.
“Sierra Leone, therefore, urges that the region bolster its cyber-security capacity and cooperation in order to interdict the networks and activities of terrorists,” he stated adding how they must also strengthen National Early Warning Systems and introduce a more effective coordination mechanism among member States.
He told the August body that as they contend with the new OMICRON variant, his Government will continue to partner with Members states to galvanize their efforts to prevent and curtail COVID- 19.
The President congratulated His Excellency, President Buhari, for his work as the COVID- 19 champion. He also recognized Professor Stanley Okolo, Director General of WAHO, for his exceptional work in helping Member States to deal with the pandemic.
“As we face unprecedented mutations of the virus, our joint efforts to prevent and curtail the spread of COVID-19 are critical,” he admonished further urging enhanced access to vaccines and also support for the development of capacity for manufacturing COVID-19 vaccines in Africa.
He continued by saying additionally they must also build resilience across healthcare systems through capacity building for health care staff to deliver essential health services to both rural and urban populations.
President Bio stated how they have an opportunity to reform or re-engineer health systems by not only enhancing workforce capacity and capability, implementing digital healthcare systems, but also by identifying alternative models of healthcare.
“We also support sub-regional manufacturing capacity for PPEs and essential medical commodities and for equipping ICUs adequately,” he revealed adding that their respective countries have supported vulnerable populations through the COVID-19 pandemic period.
“But our recovery from the pandemic will be better and stronger if we continue investing in human capital development,” he suggested furthering how they should focus on inclusive development, effective delivery, and innovative approaches stating that investing in people will spur inclusive, long-term, and sustainable economic growth.
President Bio stated that equal access to quality education must be complemented with the promotion of gender empowerment and equality laws and policies that support greater involvement in decision-making and national development.
“Women must be fully involved in using innovation and technology to drive excellence in health care, education, agriculture, and energy, among other fields,” he suggested maintaining how they can accelerate socio-economic development by placing ICT at the centre of their development strategies.
In terms of climate, energy and agriculture, Sierra Leone, like other ECOWAS member states, is most vulnerable to the negative impact of climate change stating that their response to that existential threat is critical.
“ I, therefore, appeal to Member States to collaborate on climate mitigation and adaptation and work jointly towards accessing climate finance,” he also recommended adding how there is also a need for resilient infrastructure for dams, bridges, roads, and railways that withstand the effects of climate change.
President Bio said they have an opportunity to introduce more green energy sources such as solar and biogas and to transmit those to the populations in rural communities.
“Our call for just-rural agriculture, climate-smart agriculture investments and for the engagement of women and youth as agro-entrepreneurs must be supported with tangible joint actions across the community,” the President stated.
On UN Security Council Seat Bid for 2024-25 President Bio informed that he is pleased to inform them that the 39th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council on 14th October 2021 unanimously endorsed Sierra Leone as the sole candidate for West Africa and the ECOWAS region for the UNSC seat bid for 2024-25 in the Non-Permanent Category with elections in June 2023.
President Bio took the opportunity to thank member States and colleague Heads of State for their invaluable support.
“In particular, let me thank my dear elder brother, President Muhammadu Buhari of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for his magnanimous support and show of common solidarity for Sierra Leone to represent ECOWAS and the African continent on the world stage,” he stated adding that on behalf of the Government and people of Sierra Leone, he is thanking all for the confidence reposed in Sierra Leone to represent ECOWAS.
President Bio concluded by reiterating his Government’s full support for ECOWAS in its effort to address issues that affect the region with a view to maintaining Good Governance, peace, security, stability and inclusive sustainable development.
