🇸🇱🤝🌍 THREE YEARS OF SERVICE, A LASTING LEGACY

Minister Barlay commends nine ECOWAS Volunteers for their dedicated service to Sierra Leone.

FREETOWN, August 21, 2026 — After three years of service in communities across Sierra Leone, nine ECOWAS Volunteers have been commended for their contributions to education, health and community development.

Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Kenyeh Barlay, made the commendation during an end-of-service ceremony held at the Ministry’s Conference Hall at Tower Hill, marking the completion of the volunteers’ 2023–2026 ECOWAS Volunteer Programme assignments.

The nine volunteers, including seven from other ECOWAS member states and two Sierra Leonean nationals, served in various communities and institutions across the country, particularly in schools, hospitals and health centres.

Minister Barlay described the occasion as a bittersweet moment, noting that the volunteers arrived with professional expertise, passion and a commitment to make a difference.

She said their work had positively impacted schoolchildren, patients, young people and communities, while also strengthening relationships among citizens of different ECOWAS member states.

“You have made a difference to the lives of the many beneficiaries,” Minister Barlay said, praising the volunteers for their selfless service and contribution to regional solidarity.

The Minister encouraged the outgoing volunteers to maintain the positive memories they had built in Sierra Leone, assuring them that the country would always remain a home for them.

She also commended the ECOWAS Commission for its continued investment in the Volunteer Programme, describing it as an important component of Sierra Leone’s partnership with ECOWAS and a practical contribution to regional cooperation, peace and development.

ECOWAS Resident Representative in Sierra Leone, Ambassador John Azumah, also praised the volunteers for serving as ambassadors of ECOWAS and promoting the values of unity, solidarity and regional integration.

He encouraged them to maintain the relationships established during their assignments and continue contributing to the ideals of the regional bloc.

Speaking on behalf of the ECOWAS Commissioner, Mr. Francis Njoaguani, ECOWAS Volunteer Programme Country Coordinator Preaches G. GBessaangee thanked the volunteers for their service, particularly their contributions to the education and health sectors.

He urged them to remain connected to the ECOWAS family and take advantage of future opportunities within the regional institution.

The Deputy Development Secretary II and Head of the ECOWAS National Office, Mr. Komba Momoh, who chaired the ceremony, said the schools and institutions where the volunteers served would greatly miss their contributions.

He further highlighted the role of the programme in advancing ECOWAS integration and strengthening relationships among citizens across West Africa.

Giving the vote of thanks on behalf of the volunteers, Obinna Joseph Ziba, a Chemistry and Physics teacher in Pujehun, expressed appreciation to the ECOWAS Commission, host institutions, supervisors, coordinators and other stakeholders for supporting the volunteers throughout their assignments.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates and gifts to the nine outgoing volunteers. They received locally made traditional Sierra Leonean outfits featuring the country’s green, white and blue colours, while their supervisors presented certificates in recognition of their service.

The event brought together government officials, ECOWAS representatives, school administrators, health-sector representatives, supervisors, development partners and other stakeholders to celebrate the volunteers’ contribution to Sierra Leone.

A Legacy Beyond Three Years

Beyond their professional assignments, the volunteers’ three-year service has strengthened people-to-people connections between Sierra Leone and other ECOWAS member states, demonstrating how regional volunteerism can contribute to skills development, public service delivery, cultural exchange and regional integration.