The President of Sierra Leone offers condolences to Ghana for flood victims and emphasizes strengthening regional cooperation.

Written by: Mohamed Ibrahim

Received Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, during a one-day state visit to the capital Accra, held discussions on climate change-induced floods and enhancing regional cooperation.

The visit allowed President Julius Maada Bio, who also serves as the Chair of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to offer condolences and solidarity to Ghana following the recent devastating floods that swept through several regions of the country, resulting in the displacement of thousands of people and a number of casualties.

President Mahama revealed that the government deployed the Ghana Armed Forces and the Joint Task Force to support ongoing recovery operations, including clearing waterways and restoring normalcy in affected areas. He also explained that the Minister of Finance released allocations from the contingency fund to support relief efforts coordinated by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and other entities.

He added that initial assessments indicate that about 48,000 people have been displaced, with 12 confirmed deaths and others still missing, amid ongoing emergency response and aid distribution efforts.

The presidents held bilateral talks that addressed regional security, governance, and economic integration within ECOWAS, ahead of the summit scheduled to be held in Sierra Leone.

For his part, President Julius Maada Bio expressed his deep sympathy to Ghana for the effects of the floods, emphasizing the need to strengthen regional cooperation to address the challenges of climate change, improve urban planning, and enhance the readiness of West African countries to deal with disasters.

The visit affirmed the depth of historical relations and the bonds of friendship and solidarity between Ghana and Sierra Leone, and renewed the two countries' commitment to strengthening cooperation within ECOWAS to serve peace, stability, and development in the West African region.