ECOWAS Enlightens SLAJ on Vision 2050 Agenda
By: John Kelly Marah
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Tuesday 16th June 2026, engaged members of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and its affiliate bodies on the Vision 2050 agenda, while highlighting several interventions and development projects being implemented across Sierra Leone.
The engagement, held at the SLAJ Conference Hall in Freetown, brought together journalists, media stakeholders, and officials from the ECOWAS Commission and the ECOWAS National Office in Sierra Leone.
Welcoming participants, SLAJ President, Alhaji Manika Kamara, thanked the ECOWAS delegation for choosing to engage the media. He encouraged journalists to pay close attention to the presentations and use the information shared to educate the public about ECOWAS and its activities in the region.
Giving the welcome remarks on behalf of the ECOWAS National Office, officials explained that the meeting formed part of a broader effort to raise awareness about ECOWAS and its programmes. They noted that although the regional body continues to implement numerous projects across member states, many citizens remain unaware of the impact of its work.
The purpose of the engagement was later outlined by Kogoto Williams, Director of Strategy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at the ECOWAS Commission. He said the Commission is currently engaging key stakeholders across member states to popularize ECOWAS Vision 2050, a development framework designed to guide the region over the next 25 years.
According to Williams, Vision 2050 reflects the aspirations of the people of West Africa for a peaceful, prosperous, and fully integrated region built on strong institutions, democracy, good governance, human rights, and sustainable development.
He explained that the vision places citizens at the centre of development, with particular attention given to women, youths, and vulnerable groups. He added that the vision is aligned with national development plans, the African Union Agenda 2063, and global development goals.
Williams also provided an overview of the ECOWAS governance structure and highlighted the roles played by institutions such as the ECOWAS Parliament, ECOWAS Court of Justice, ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), and the West African Health Organization (WAHO) in promoting regional integration.
He stressed that achieving the goals of Vision 2050 would require political commitment, strong institutions, adequate financing, effective monitoring systems, and the active participation of citizens across the region.
Making a presentation on ECOWAS interventions in Sierra Leone, Head of the ECOWAS National Office, Komba Momoh, highlighted several projects and programmes that have benefited the country over the years.
He recalled ECOWAS’s intervention during Sierra Leone’s political crisis, which contributed to the restoration of constitutional order and democratic governance. He also cited investments in youth skills training, support for women suffering from obstetric fistula, scholarship opportunities for outstanding girls, and assistance to the health sector.
Momoh further highlighted the construction of the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi, which is intended to support regional peacekeeping operations, as well as support for the University of Science and Technology in Kono through funding from the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development.
He also mentioned the ongoing construction of a joint border post at Gendema, the establishment of an Early Warning Office to monitor potential security threats, support to the West African Police Information System (WAPIS), and mediation efforts aimed at resolving border concerns between Sierra Leone and Guinea.
According to him, ECOWAS is also supporting the construction of a border market in Yenga, which will facilitate trade between border communities, while plans are underway for the construction of a textile and garment factory in Kono.
Speaking on the benefits of ECOWAS membership, Momoh highlighted the free movement of persons and goods within the sub-region, regional trade opportunities, enhanced security cooperation, educational support programmes, and infrastructural development projects.
He encouraged business owners to take advantage of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme, which allows approved locally-produced goods to move across member states without customs duties.
Despite these achievements, Momoh acknowledged that the region continues to face several challenges, including political instability, climate change, youth unemployment, corruption, and weak institutional capacity.
He observed that unemployment remains one of the biggest concerns in the region, forcing many young people to migrate in search of opportunities, while others become vulnerable to crime and drug abuse.
He further noted that corruption and weak governance systems continue to affect development efforts, stressing the need for accountability and stronger institutions to ensure that resources meant for development reach their intended beneficiaries.
The engagement ended with a call for greater collaboration between ECOWAS, governments, the media, civil society organizations, and citizens in achieving the objectives of Vision 2050.
Participants were encouraged to help raise public awareness about the vision and support efforts aimed at building a peaceful, prosperous, and integrated West African region
