Abuja, Nigeria – 21 June 2025 – President Dr Julius Maada Bio has delivered a powerful message of unity and ambition at the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) held in Abuja, Nigeria, calling for urgent regional integration, increased investment, and inclusive growth across the sub-region.
Addressing leaders and stakeholders from across West Africa, President Bio praised Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for hosting the high-level gathering and commended the summit organisers for creating a platform to address shared regional challenges.
“West Africa is blessed with natural wealth and a young, vibrant population,” President Bio said. “But these assets must be leveraged through deeper integration to overcome rising debt, climate threats, and food insecurity.”
Highlighting Sierra Leone’s strides in regional cooperation, he cited the country’s alignment with ECOWAS and AfCFTA protocols, including registering products under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), implementing the ASYCUDA WORLD system to modernise customs processes, and rolling out ECOWAS biometric ID cards to enhance regional mobility.
President Bio underscored the urgency for a common regional currency and a monetary union, stressing that such steps—along with improved infrastructure, energy systems, and digital connectivity—would reduce trade barriers and stimulate cross-border business.
He described youth as “the heartbeat of our continent” and called for greater investment in skills training, entrepreneurship, and job creation to harness their potential for economic transformation.
On financing, President Bio encouraged innovative funding models for major projects like the West African Power Pool and pushed for harmonised financial systems, tax regimes, and quality standards to drive convergence and growth across ECOWAS states.
Reaffirming Sierra Leone’s commitment to regional development, he invited investors, development partners, and governments to work together in key sectors such as agriculture, energy, tourism, mining, and digital services.
“Sierra Leone stands ready to collaborate for a stronger, more prosperous West Africa,” the President concluded.
A man who says everything and delivers nothing. MAADA BIO is a Murderer, financial and electoral thief who cannot be trusted and we’ll do everything to ensure justice is served and democracy restored in Sierra Leone.