By Hassan G. Koroma
The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED) and the Economic Community of West African States in Sierra Leone last Tuesday commenced sensitisation meetings in Bonthe Island, Mattru Jong and Pujehun District respectively.
The main objective of the sensitisation meetings was to enlighten the public about the activities of ECOWAS that will celebrate its Silver Jubilee in May this year.
Speaking at the engagement, ECOWAS Commissioner in Sierra Leone, Aruna Musa, assured that the Commission is people-centred, and the reason for the engagement was for people to know ECOWAS challenges and proffer solutions.
Minister of Planning and Economic Development Kenyeh Barlay highlighted that the meeting was to sensitize the people about the forthcoming Silver Jubilee of ECOWAS, affirming that with the exception of Bonthe Island they have sensitized other parts of the country.
She observes that Bonthe Island as the first Municipality in Sierra Leone country they need to be sensitized on ECOWAS issues.
She disclosed that ECOWAS would be celebrating its 50th anniversary on 28th May, noting that ECOWAS is for the people and they must be part of it and as well as contribute to its development.
Minister Kenyeh Barlay talked about Sierra Leone’s Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) that prioritises agriculture, human capital development, infrastructure, youth employment, transforming the public sector infrastructure, noting that each District has its own priorities in the MTNDP.
She continued that ECOWAS volunteers are working in Sierra Leone in the health, education and other sectors, and they have now constructed logistics depot in Lungi, supporting the Aberdeen Women’s Centre and the Kono University and others.
According to her the MTNDP, priorities for Bonthe Island includes mechanised farming, a standard referral hospital, sea ambulance, youth employment scheme, enterprises for youths, technical and vocational institutions and remote allowances for workers.
In his PowerPoint presentation on activities of ECOWAS in Sierra Leone, the Deputy Development Secretary and Head of the ECOWAS Desk, at MoPED, Komba Momoh explained the historical background, of ECOWAS its number of Member Countries, its vision, institutions and its interventions in Sierra Leone.
He explained that ECOWAS was primarily created for economic activities amongst its member counties, and the political treaty was signed in 1973, disclosing recently three countries left the Commission.
Momoh further noted that other objectives of the Commission are to harmonize policies to protect the environment, combat climate change, establish a common market, adopt common tariffs, promote free movements of goods and services, use one common currency, and promote good governance and democracy.
He said institutions created by ECOWAS include the Community Court of Justice, the Bank of Investment and Development, the West Africa Health Organisation, the Action Group against Money Laundering and Terrorism in West Africa, the Office of the Auditor General and the ECOWAS Parliament.
Bonthe Island City Municipality, Mayor Mohamed Robinson, revealed that Bonthe District has 11 chiefdoms, and disclosed that before now all government ministries, departments and agencies were based in the island.
He appealed to government for a modern market with cold room adding that they are optimistic that the island would once again become a paradise with the support of President Bio.
