Sierra Leone Hands Over Land to Ecowas for Establishment of Regional Logistics Facility

15 July 2010
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Economic Community of West African States (Abuja)
press release

Free Town - Sierra Leone — President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone formally handed over an 18-acre piece of land to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, for the establishment of a regional logistics facility in Freetown, one of the two depots approved for West Africa by the Heads of State and Government of the Community.

The other is hosted by Mali as a humanitarian depot. The facility, one of the several development projects being undertaken by ECOWAS towards achieving peace and stability in West Africa, will enhance Peace Support Operations in the region, including support for democracy and good governance. At a colourful ceremony on Wednesday, 14th July 2010 at the Freetown International Airport in Lungi in Poko Loko District, President Koroma stated that "it is a blessing for Sierra Leone to host this ECOWAS Logistics Depot as it will contribute to infrastructural development and help to create jobs for Sierra Leoneans". The President said that an emergency response facility such as the Lungi depot would further enthrone peace, security and development as well as raise the living standard of Community citizens. President Koroma noted that ECOWAS Vision 2020 "spells out the urgent need for peace and tranquility, safe travel by land, sea and air unhindered". "ECOWAS' record of conflict resolution is extremely good and for Sierra Leone, it is a fine start as it makes us feel more sense of belonging to a wider West African community", President Koroma added. While expressing gratitude to his colleague Heads of State "for the honour bestowed on Sierra Leone to host this facility", President Koroma called on all Sierra Leoneans to support the project.

In his response, Ambassador Gbeho noted the many challenges to the acquisition of the land and said the handing over of the site at the Freetown International Airport "marks the beginning of the realization of the dream of establishing an ECOWAS logistics facility here in Freetown". "The offer of this new site is therefore accepted in the spirit in which it has been given and especially because it also represents the keeping of faith by the Government of Sierra Leone with ECOWAS", Ambassador Gbeho stated. He expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Sierra Leone, stakeholders and development partners "for this unprecedented assistance to ECOWAS" and assured that the facility would "immediately be put to the use for which it has been sought". The President of the Commission also appealed for cooperation from all stakeholders in order to ensure a speedy and successful completion of the project. He particularly noted the presence of the traditional rulers and people of the Lungi community and declared that their support would be vital in the development of the project. "If our vision is to make our organization into an ECOWAS of peoples then we must welcome their presence and interest in the project", said Ambassador Gbeho.

Earlier, the Paramount Chief of Kaffu Bullom Chiefdom, Bai Shebora Sheba Gbereh III in his welcome statement, expressed delight over the donation of the facility, adding that his community was aware of the "tremendous benefits" the facility would bring to them. While pledging the Lungi community's cooperation to "ensure an amicable relationship with the staff of the depot, Bai Gbereh III called for respect of their customs and traditions "in order to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings". The Minister of Transport and Aviation of Sierra Leone, Captain Momodou Allieu Pat-Sowe and his counterpart from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Dr. Samura Kamara, also addressed the gathering which included Sierra Leonean ministers and their deputies, members of parliament, senior military and police officers, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional rulers and media practitioners. The Logistics Depot in Freetown, Sierra Leone and the Bamako Humanitarian Depot in Mali were created on 19th January 2005 in Accra, Ghana by the 28th Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government. The two depots will be used to store items and service equipment as well as ECOWAS supplies. While the facility in Lungi is intended to serve the coastal countries of the region, the Bamako Depot, which will cater for humanitarian needs for peace support operations (PSOs), will serve landlocked countries. It is intended for the storage of emergency equipment, food and non-food items to be provided to victims of natural disasters and conflicts.

Read the original article on Ecowas.

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