Dr. Chakanda Becomes ECOWAS Seed Regulatory Committee President
Accra, Ghana – September 15, 2025 —
At a high-level regional meeting held at the Alisa Hotel in Central Accra, Dr. Robert Chakanda, Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Seed Certification Agency (SLeSCA), was appointed as the new President of the ECOWAS Committee for the Regulation of Seeds and Plants in West Africa (CRSPAO-10).
The CRSPAO-10 plays a pivotal role in harmonizing and advancing the seed system across all ECOWAS member states and the wider Sahel region. Working in close collaboration with UEMOA, the Comité Ouest et Centre Africain des Semences (CILSS), and with its Secretariat hosted by CORAF, the Committee is central to ensuring seed quality, availability, and certification standards. This work directly underpins regional food security and agricultural productivity.
Dr. Chakanda’s appointment comes at a symbolic moment, as Sierra Leone’s Head of State, H.E. President Julius Maada Bio, currently serves as Chairman of ECOWAS. His flagship program, Feed Salone, has been widely celebrated for its bold ambition to achieve food self-sufficiency and security in Sierra Leone. A cornerstone of this success lies in the strengthening of the national seed system, which guarantees farmers access to high-quality, certified seeds.
In just three years under Dr. Chakanda’s leadership, SLeSCA has transformed Sierra Leone’s seed sector. The Agency has established district-level field inspection systems, constructed and equipped a modern seed testing laboratory at Mile 91, trained local and international seed scientists and technicians, and enforced compliance measures that have brought structure and credibility to the seed value chain. These achievements have made Sierra Leone a reference point in the region and positioned Dr. Chakanda as a respected voice in seed policy and system development.
Accepting the new role, Dr. Chakanda emphasized the importance of regional solidarity and harmonization in building resilient seed systems: “Seeds are the foundation of agriculture and food security. By working together through CRSPAO-10, we ensure that every farmer in West Africa and the Sahel has access to high-quality seeds that can transform livelihoods and strengthen food sovereignty.”
His appointment is not only a recognition of his personal expertise as a seed scientist with international experience across Africa, Latin America, and Asia, but also a testament to Sierra Leone’s growing leadership in regional agricultural transformation under President Bio’s stewardship of ECOWAS.
