The Inquirer (Monrovia)
Patrick K. Wrokpoh
24 September 2007
The new President of Sierra Leone Ernest Bai Kromah has vowed that his government would strengthen border patrols along the Guinean and Liberian borders to control the illegal movement of arms along the borders of the three countries.
President Kromah said his new government would do all it could to work with the international organizations in controlling and dealing with the movement of arms along the borders of the three countries.
The Sierra Leonean leader made these comments on Friday in the VIP Lounge of the Roberts International Airport, shortly after he and his Liberian counterpart, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf signed a joint communiqué during a one- day official visit he paid to Liberia as part of his first tour of the sub-region after he was sworn in as the new President of Sierra Leone last week.
Addressing himself to his government's intention to deal with the issue of cross border arms movement, something which many believed is largely responsible for plunging the Mano River Union Basin in instability over the years, President Kromah said, "We are going to make sure that we strengthen our border patrols. We know that the movement of arms have caused a lot of problems within the sub-region but I believe we will do all it takes to cooperate with international organizations and among ourselves to deal with the problem."
President Kromah, with an 18- man delegation from Guinea, said that there is a need to foster cooperation among the Mano River Union countries and member countries of ECOWAS in making sure that cross border arms movement is eliminated.
Dwelling on the significance of his visit to Liberia, President Kromah said he was in the country to commend President Sirleaf, the government and the people of Sierra Leone for their support to his country and also for his election as the new President of that country.
"I am here to make a commitment having been sworn in as President of my country that we will continue to strengthen the good relationship that exists between Liberia and Sierra Leone," he added.
President Kromah said both countries have a common history and experiences and as such, he sees it expedient for both countries to share these experiences as they move along.
According to him he was also in the country to show his commitment towards the furtherance of the Mano River Union Protocol, which he noted include the revitalization of the organization and working together to ensure the free movement among the three countries.
He further stressed the need for the organization to cooperate in the areas of trade, development and work to address its common problems.
During the visit, the Sierra Leonean President and his Liberian counterpart signed a joint communiqué pledging to support peace and strengthen bilateral ties.
According to the communiqué, the two countries have agreed to encourage and foster trade and commerce as well as to work cooperatively towards enhancing the peace-building process in their respective countries, through the promotion of good governance and democracy.
The communiqué also said the two countries pledged to fully support each other on matters concerning their sovereignty, territorial integrity, stability, peace and development.
Relative to the Mano River Union, the two leaders pledged to intensify efforts to consolidate peace and establish security and stability in their respective countries so as to accelerate the reactivation of the Union projects and programs, in order to meet the objectives and goals of the Union, which is to constitute a customs and economic union among member states so as to improve the living standards of their peoples.
The two leaders urged member states to respect fully the Non-aggression and Security Cooperation Treaty, signed in Freetown on November 20, 1986 and the Fifteenth Protocol on the Declaration of the Mano River Union on Defense, Security, Internal and Foreign Affairs, signed in May 2000 in Conakry, and related Treaties.
The two leaders also urged member states as a matter of urgency, to contribute financially to the Secretariat of the Union to enable it play its role in the implementation of the Union's decisions, as well as the reactivation of the Union's institutions, projects and programs.
The communiqué quoted the two leaders as welcoming the recent moves by African leaders to foster greater integration of the continent, but agreed that in order to guarantee success, the ultimate goal of the continental African Government will have to be pursued through an incremental process by the rationalization of sub-regional economic groupings.
Friday's visit, the first by the New Sierra Leonean President since his election and subsequent swearing-in last Monday, was in pursuance of the strong cultural ties and bilateral relations that have historically existed between Liberia and Sierra Leone, as well as within the framework of the Mano River Union, of which President Johnson Sirleaf is the current Chair.
President Kromah who departed Liberia Friday afternoon for Burkina Faso, has meanwhile, extended an invitation to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to pay an official visit to his country, an invitation, which has been heartily accepted.
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