By Saio Marrah
President Julius Maada Bio has said that Sierra Leone is committed to attainment of the single currency for the ECOWAS Community of nations.
He made this statement on Monday 29th May 2021 on the first day of the second session of the ECOWAS Parliament Extra Ordinary Session held at the Freetown International Conference Centre.
He said that: “Sierra Leone remains fully committed to the aspiration of the ECOWAS single currency program,’’ adding that the country will continue to implement prudent economic policies to satisfy and meet the convergent criteria set up by the regional blog and among others.
He used the occasion to urge ECOWAS leaders to invest in human capital development to get rid of the pending youth crisis in the sub-region.
“We should also be mindful of the looming youth crisis and therefore intentionally invest in human capital development. The impact of those investment to my mind, are that our youth can compete favorably in the global knowledge economy, deploy technology and innovation, promote entrepreneurship, create inclusive employment opportunities and therefore unleash a vast youth potentials in the African sub region,” he said.
While he thanked the regional block and its Parliamentarians for their countless support towards Sierra Leone and for electing Sidie Mohamed Tunis as Speaker of ECOWAS parliament, Bio noted that contrary to the civil war and other forms of disasters that the country has been known for, it is now a country of peace.
He also encouraged the ECOWAS Community to make their different countries a prime destination for investment by adopting practices, policies and regulations as well as to harness greater regional economic integration with more markets linking the entire region that work towards achieving that goal.
He also pointed out that as a community the resilient and indomitable spirit has served the region well in the fight against COVID-19. He also noted that through proactive leadership and cooperation throughout the states, has kept low levels of case fatality ratios in the sub region.
While he lauded the international community for supplying the COVID-19 vaccine across the regions, President Bio also called on other ECOWAS States to strengthen the health care and disaster management structures so that the sub region cannot be always be prone to future shocks.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Bou, thanked President Bio for his great support towards the ECOWAS Parliament and also sympathized on behalf of the ECOWAS Community with the victims of the fire incident which occurred at Susan’s Bay few days ago.
Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Sidie Mohamed Tunis, pointed out that majority of the members suggested and agreed that the first extra- ordinary session of the community be held in Sierra Leone especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Citing the mandate of the regional grouping which he said included to maintain peace, provide security, economic support for the sub region and respect for humanity, he stressed that he was determined and hopeful of bringing the body closer to the people of the sub region.
The Speaker maintained that in 2020, five countries within the sub region held presidential elections, with three more countries within the sub- region awaiting presidential elections in 2021.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online {30/03/21)
