Madam Koroma commended national intelligence and security service chiefs for their remarkable contribution behind the scenes towards building and maintaining peace and security in the ECOWAS sub-region.
She disclosed that the Early Warning Directorate (EWD) was established in line with Article 58 of the 1993 Revised Treaty and the 1999 Protocol relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security.
“For over 14 years, the ECOWAS Early Warning Directorate has been gathering, analyzing and disseminating information that is used to prevent and mitigate threats to human security,” she said.
ECOWAS Early Warning System and the National Early Warning Mechanisms according to Madam Koroma have established five national centers that are currently operational, adding that additional five centers including the one in Sierra Leone are currently in preparation phase.
Responding, the Deputy Minister of Defence Colonel Rtd. Simeon Sheriff applauded the commission for their support in strengthening peace in the sub region, stating that there is still an increase in the destruction of life and properties in the sub-region.
Retired Colonel Sheriff further said that Sierra Leone welcomes the representatives of the region’s national chiefs of the various intelligence services, experts and stakeholders with the objective of defining a framework for systematic collaboration.
The session according to retired Colonel Sheriff provides a platform for frank deliberations with ECOWAS National Intelligence Service Chiefs, alongside selected military and police intelligence advisers.
