Freetown — Sierra Leone has generated more than 2,000 jobs through its hosting of the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit, Chief Minister Dr. David Moinina Sengeh announced, as the government highlights early economic returns from the regional event.
According to Dr. Sengeh, over 1,200 Sierra Leoneans were employed during the six-month preparation period alone, with the overall workforce surpassing 2,000 across hospitality, catering, transport, logistics, and support services.
The figures come amid ongoing public debate about the cost of staging the summit and the construction of new facilities in Lungi, including the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre, presidential villas, and expanded hospitality infrastructure.
Government officials are positioning the event as a catalyst for longer-term growth, arguing that the investments will help transform Sierra Leone into a regional hub for tourism, business travel, and international conferences.
Minister of Planning and Economic Development Kenyeh Barlay emphasized that the government intentionally prioritized local hotels and service providers to ensure direct benefits for citizens and businesses in Lungi, Aberdeen, and Freetown.
“When any country holds an event, citizens benefit economically. Businesses will thrive in Lungi, Aberdeen and town,” Barlay said.
Foreign Minister Alhaji Timothy Musa Kabba spotlighted another key achievement: the commissioning of the ECOWAS Regional Logistics Depot in Lungi. The project, first proposed in 2005 in Accra, Ghana, was finally realized during Sierra Leone’s chairmanship of the bloc.
“It is during our President’s chairmanship, 20 years in the making, that we are actually commissioning it on Sierra Leonean soil,” Kabba stated.
The summit has also advanced broader regional initiatives with potential economic implications for Sierra Leone, including steps toward the ECOWAS single currency by 2027 and cooperation on the proposed African Atlantic Gas Pipeline.
Dr. Sengeh described the successful delivery of the summit as a fulfillment of a clear goal set six months earlier.
“Six months ago, we set out a goal. We said that together we would deliver and together, we delivered,” he said.
While discussions over the overall financial cost of hosting continue, the administration maintains that the measurable gains, particularly the significant job creation and new infrastructure, demonstrate clear value for Sierra Leone and its people.
