The 39th Session of the ECOWAS Administration and Finance Committee (AFC) officially opened on Sunday, 12 July 2026, at the Bintumani International Conference Centre in Freetown, marking the commencement of the statutory meetings leading to the 2026 ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit.
The session brought together delegates from the twelve ECOWAS Member States to deliberate on key administrative, financial and institutional matters that are critical to the effective functioning of the regional bloc and the implementation of its programmes.
Officially declaring the session open, Chairman of the Administration and Finance Committee, Komba Momoh, welcomed delegates to Sierra Leone and expressed gratitude to President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, for his leadership in advancing regional integration and cooperation.
“I warmly welcome you all to Sierra Leone for the 39th Session of the Administration and Finance Committee. I extend my sincere appreciation to His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio for his outstanding leadership as Chairman of ECOWAS. I encourage all delegates to participate actively so that our deliberations will be productive and yield meaningful outcomes for the benefit of our Community,” Komba Momoh stated.
He underscored the pivotal role of the Administration and Finance Committee in promoting sound governance, financial accountability, institutional efficiency and prudent resource management within ECOWAS. He urged participants to address emerging administrative and financial challenges while developing practical recommendations that will strengthen the Community’s capacity to achieve its objectives.
Komba Momoh also commended the Government and people of Sierra Leone for the warm hospitality extended to delegates and expressed optimism that the meeting would generate recommendations to guide the deliberations of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers and the Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Speaking on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission, Vice President H.E. Damtien L. Tchintchibidja reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to deepening regional integration through effective financial management, institutional reforms and strengthened cooperation among Member States.
She called on Member States to intensify collaboration in addressing pressing regional challenges, including peace and security, climate change, youth unemployment and institutional resilience. According to her, stronger partnerships and coordinated action remain essential to achieving the goals outlined in the ECOWAS Vision.
The Administration and Finance Committee meeting is the first in a series of statutory engagements that will culminate in the ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit. During the summit, Heads of State and Government are expected to review policy recommendations, consider reports from various organs of the Community and adopt key decisions aimed at promoting regional integration, economic cooperation, peace, security and sustainable development across West Africa.
By hosting this year’s statutory meetings, Sierra Leone continues to strengthen its position as a key player in regional diplomacy under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio. The country is expected to receive hundreds of delegates, ministers, technical experts and development partners participating in the week-long ECOWAS engagements.
