Freetown, Sierra Leone — The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has delivered 500 metric tons of white rice to Sierra Leone as part of its ongoing emergency food assistance to support vulnerable communities grappling with rising food insecurity.
The donation was officially presented by ECOWAS Resident Representative, Ambassador John Azumah, to Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Therisa Tenneh Dick, during a handover ceremony in Freetown.
Ambassador Azumah highlighted the gesture as a demonstration of ECOWAS’ commitment to regional solidarity in the face of growing humanitarian needs.
“This intervention comes at a crucial time as millions across West Africa continue to face acute food shortages,” Ambassador Azumah said.
The rice, sourced from ECOWAS’s Regional Food Security Reserve, forms part of a broader strategy aimed at cushioning vulnerable populations across the region.
According to ECOWAS, recent vulnerability assessments indicate that over 49 million people across West Africa currently require urgent food assistance.
Receiving the donation, Deputy Minister Dr. Dick expressed gratitude on behalf of the government, noting that the contribution would strengthen Sierra Leone’s capacity to respond to food security challenges.
“This timely support will significantly reinforce our efforts to build more resilient national food systems,” she remarked.
The assistance coincides with President Julius Maada Bio’s recent assumption of the ECOWAS Chairmanship, a development seen as deepening Sierra Leone’s engagement in regional cooperation on key issues, including food security.
ECOWAS reaffirmed its dedication to a multi-layered approach to tackling food insecurity, combining local, national, and regional reserves.
The organization also acknowledged the continued support of development partners such as the European Union, World Bank, and USAID, who have been instrumental in sustaining the regional food reserve system since its inception in 2016.
Authorities say distribution of the rice to affected communities will begin immediately.
