Lungi, Northern Province – Vice President Dr Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh conducted a comprehensive inspection of the newly completed Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre in Lungi, as preparations are fast gaining momentum for the upcoming ECOWAS Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled for 19 July 2026.
On 12 July, the visit was to assess the preparedness of the facility to host this high-profile regional gathering. The Centre was built under the supervision of the Office of Presidential Infrastructure and Initiatives (OPII) and is set to be officially commissioned on Saturday, 18 July 2026 a day before the summit takes place.
Dr Jalloh, leading a high-level delegation of senior government officials, during the inspection. He was accompanied by Hon. Fantamadi Bangura, Minister of Finance, Mr Baba Fortune, Secretary to the President and Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hon. Kenyeh Ballay; and Dr Eldred Taylor, Chairman of OPII. Officials from the Ministry of Works, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State House Protocol, the Sierra Leone Airports Authority and senior security officials also joined the tour.
The delegation was met on arrival by the Project Manager and members of the technical team who took them on a tour of the facility lasting several hours. The itinerary included the main plenary hall, breakout and bilateral meeting rooms, media and press centre, VVIP lounges, catering and exhibition areas and the ICT hub. External works were also examined, with particular attention being paid to the landscaping, access roads, parking facilities and the backup systems for the Centre’s power and water.
The Project Manager briefed the Vice President on the design philosophy of the Centre and standards of construction adopted during the project. Particular attention was paid to equipping the Centre with modern facilities to meet the standards of international conferences. The main plenary hall, which seats over 1,200 delegates, has simultaneous interpretation booths and sophisticated audio-visual systems and special seating for Heads of State. The media centre is ready for over 100 journalists and is equipped for live broadcasting to enable global coverage of the summit proceedings.
After the inspection, Vice President Jalloh told journalists that he was satisfied with the quality of workmanship and the general level of preparedness. He said the Conference Centre was a landmark achievement and the embodiment of the Government’s commitment to invest in infrastructure that advances diplomacy, trade and regional integration. “It is the aspiration of Sierra Leone to be at the centre of regional affairs and the befitting venue for high-level engagements,” said Dr Jalloh.
He praised OPII, the contractors, consultants, engineers and workforce for delivering the project on time and to international standards. “The Centre will be a national asset for the long term, in addition to being the host venue of the ECOWAS Summit,” the Vice President reiterated. The facility will be used for African Union meetings, United Nations conferences and private sector events and it is hoped it will reduce the need to send delegations abroad and create opportunities in tourism, hospitality and related services.
Ahead of the summit, Dr Jalloh directed relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure tight coordination on matters of security, protocol, transport and hospitality. He said Sierra Leone should give the best image of itself to visiting Heads of State and their delegations and stressed the importance of having the best logistical and security arrangements during the period of the summit.
Officially, the Centre’s strategic position in Lungi close to Freetown International Airport was seen as a logistical advantage that will ease access for international delegates and add to Sierra Leone’s attractiveness as a conference and diplomatic hub.
The Government says final preparations will continue in the coming days, with the commissioning ceremony scheduled for 18 July and the ECOWAS Summit for 19 July, as Lungi prepares to host leaders from across the West African region at the President Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre.
