AYV News, August 19, 2026
Two senior Directors of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) are representing Sierra Leone at a high-level, two-week Seminar on Work Safety and Emergency Management Capacity Building for English-Speaking African Countries in Beijing, China.
The training, which commenced on 18 August 2026 and runs until 30 August, is hosted by China’s Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Emergency Management.
Sierra Leone is represented by Mohamed L. Bah, Director of Communications and Sinneh Mansaray, Director of Relief and Response.
The seminar brings together disaster management officials from across Africa and focuses on industrial safety, early warning systems, risk assessment and post-disaster coordination.
Participants are also undertaking technical visits to Chinese emergency response hubs and industrial safety demonstration zones.
At the opening ceremony, NDMA Director of Communications Mohamed L. Bah was selected to deliver remarks on behalf of all participants.
“We are not here merely as participants, we are here as partners. The knowledge and partnerships we build in China will be translated into concrete actions that protect lives and livelihoods when we return home.”
He said the training comes at a critical time as African countries face increasing threats from floods, mudslides and industrial accidents.
NDMA Director General John Vandy Rogers described the training as a strategic investment in the Agency’s human capital.
“The exposure our Directors are gaining in China will directly benefit our operations, particularly in enhancing our early warning communication and relief coordination.”
The participation underscores Sierra Leone’s commitment to international cooperation, continuous learning and the adoption of global best practices in disaster management, while further strengthening Sierra Leone-China cooperation under South-South cooperation.
