AYV News, July 24, 2026
The Government of Sierra Leone has announced that the country is already reaping significant economic benefits from hosting the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, revealing that more than 2,000 jobs were created during the preparation and staging of the landmark regional summit.
Government disclosed that over 1,200 Sierra Leoneans were directly employed during the six-month preparation period leading up to the summit, with total employment surpassing 2,000 across key sectors including hospitality, catering, transportation, logistics, construction, security, and other support services.
The announcement comes amid public discussions over the cost of hosting the high-profile regional gathering and the construction of strategic infrastructure in Lungi, including the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre, presidential villas, and expanded hospitality facilities.
Chief Minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, said the summit has delivered tangible economic and diplomatic returns, positioning Sierra Leone as a preferred destination for international conferences while strengthening the country’s regional and global profile.
Reflecting on the outcomes of the 69th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS and the Summit on the Future of Regional Integration in West Africa, held on 19 July 2026 in Lungi, the Chief Minister highlighted ten major achievements that he described as significant for Sierra Leone, West Africa, and the wider international community.
Among the key outcomes was the signing of the Inter-Governmental Agreement on the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP), a transformative regional energy project that will extend the existing West African Gas Pipeline from Nigeria and Ghana through several countries to Morocco, strengthening regional energy connectivity.
The summit also adopted the Presidential Declaration on Advancing Gender Parity in Political Representation in ECOWAS Member States, a move Dr. Sengeh said complements Sierra Leone’s landmark Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment legislation, which guarantees at least 30 percent representation for women in political and public decision-making.
Another major milestone was the adoption of the Declaration of Commitment for the Compact on the Future of Regional Integration, providing a strategic roadmap to guide the implementation of ECOWAS Vision 2050 and deepen regional cooperation in the coming decades.
The ECOWAS Authority further reaffirmed its commitment to launching the ECO single currency in 2027, describing it as a critical instrument for promoting regional economic integration, expanding intra-regional trade, and fostering sustainable and inclusive economic growth across West Africa.
Delegates also witnessed the commissioning of the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi, a strategic facility expected to enhance the region’s capacity to respond rapidly to security threats, humanitarian emergencies, and public health crises.
The summit approved several important institutional appointments, including the incoming President of the ECOWAS Commission and other statutory office holders, while welcoming Guinea’s President, General Mamadi Doumbouya, to his first ECOWAS meeting since Guinea’s suspension, as well as Benin’s President Romuald Wadagni, attending his first summit as Head of State.
Business and investment also featured prominently during the gathering, with Africa’s leading industrialist,Alhaji Aliko Dangote, reaffirming his intention to invest several billion dollars across the continent and urging ECOWAS leaders to create an enabling environment that attracts private sector investment.
On regional security and human rights, the Authority endorsed Ghana’s proposal to raise the issue of xenophobic attacks against people of African descent in South Africa, particularly West African citizens, at the forthcoming African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government in pursuit of a lasting continental solution.
The summit brought together an impressive gathering of regional and international leaders, including 10 Presidents, two Vice Presidents, one Foreign Minister, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, ECOWAS Business Council Chairman Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and ECOWAS Chief Negotiator Dr. Lansana Kouyaté, underscoring Sierra Leone’s growing importance as a venue for major international diplomacy.
Government officials say the successful hosting of the summit has enhanced Sierra Leone’s international reputation, boosted tourism and hospitality, stimulated local businesses, generated employment opportunities, and left behind modern infrastructure that will continue to support economic growth and position the country as a leading destination for regional and global conferences.
