Bintumani International Conference Centre, Freetown, Sunday, 12 July 2026 – The 39th Session of the ECOWAS Administration and Finance Committee (AFC) officially opened today in Freetown, marking the beginning of the statutory meetings leading to the 2026 ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit, with delegates from across the twelve Member States gathering to deliberate on key administrative, financial and institutional matters critical to the Community.
Officially opening the session, Chairman of the Administration and Finance Committee, Mr. Komba Momoh, welcomed delegates to Sierra Leone and expressed appreciation to His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, for his leadership in advancing the regional integration agenda.
“I warmly welcome you all to Sierra Leone for the 39th Session of the Administration and Finance Committee. I extend my sincere appreciation to His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio for his outstanding leadership as Chairman of ECOWAS. I encourage all delegates to participate actively so that our deliberations will be productive and yield meaningful outcomes for the benefit of our Community,” Mr. Momoh stated.
He emphasized that the Administration and Finance Committee remains central to ensuring sound governance, financial accountability, institutional efficiency and prudent resource management within ECOWAS, while urging delegates to address emerging administrative and financial challenges to strengthen the Community’s capacity to deliver on its mandate.
Mr. Momoh also thanked the Government and people of Sierra Leone for the warm hospitality extended to delegates and expressed confidence that the session would produce practical recommendations to support the decisions of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers and the Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission, Vice President H.E. Damtien L. Tchintchibidja reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to strengthening regional integration through sound financial management, institutional reforms and collective action.
She called on Member States to deepen collaboration in addressing emerging regional challenges, particularly in the areas of peace and security, climate change, youth unemployment and institutional resilience, stressing that stronger partnerships remain essential to achieving the objectives of the ECOWAS Vision.
The 39th Session of the Administration and Finance Committee is the first in a series of high-level statutory meetings that will culminate in the ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit, during which Member States will consider policy recommendations and adopt key decisions aimed at advancing regional integration, economic cooperation, peace, security and sustainable development across West Africa.
As host of this year’s meetings, Sierra Leone continues to reinforce its role at the center of regional diplomacy under the chairmanship of President Julius Maada Bio, with the country welcoming hundreds of delegates, ministers, experts and development partners for the week-long ECOWAS engagements.
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