By Claudia Redwood-Sawyerr
The Executive Director of Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), Marcella Samba Sesay, has described Sierra Leone’s successful hosting of the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government as a powerful symbol of the country’s democratic progress and post-conflict transformation.
Speaking during the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s weekly press conference, Samba said the Summit marked an emotional milestone for Sierra Leone, particularly for citizens who witnessed the country’s civil conflict and the role ECOWAS played in restoring peace.
Reflecting on Sierra Leone’s journey, Samba recalled that during the civil war ECOWAS, particularly through the ECOMOG peacekeeping mission, played a critical role in helping restore peace and stability. She noted that many regional soldiers, especially from Nigeria, made enormous sacrifices in support of Sierra Leone, adding that those contributions should never be forgotten.
She observed that Sierra Leone’s international image has changed significantly over the years.
“Before now, conversations about Sierra Leone centred on conflict and instability. Today, the country is hosting regional leaders to discuss the future of West Africa. That is a powerful statement about how far we have come,” she said.
According to her, the successful hosting of the Summit represents more than an international event; it reflects years of democratic consolidation, institutional rebuilding, and post-conflict recovery.
She explained that rebuilding a nation after conflict requires more than restoring peace. It involves reconciliation, institutional reform, accountability, and restoring public confidence in governance, these principles she said, continue to shape Sierra Leone’s democratic journey.
Madam Samba Sesay further praised the adoption of the ECOWAS Compact for the Future, noting that it reinforces the regional body’s Vision 2050 agenda, which seeks to place citizens at the centre of governance and regional integration.
She also welcomed the continued advancement of gender representation within political leadership, describing women’s participation in decision-making as essential to inclusive governance.
Samba concluded by stating that Sierra
Leone’s successful organisation of the Summit demonstrates what the country can achieve through effective leadership, collaboration, and national commitment.
“If we can successfully deliver an event of this magnitude, then we have shown that Sierra Leone is capable of achieving even more,” she said.
