By Davida Spaine-Solomon
Freetown, 24th July 2026 – The Executive Director of Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), Marcella Samba Sesay, has called on Sierra Leoneans to build on the momentum of the recently concluded 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit by deepening civic education, strengthening governance accountability, and advancing regional integration.
Speaking at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s weekly press briefing on Tuesday, Sesay said the successful hosting of the summit should be seen not as an end in itself but as the beginning of sustained national engagement.
“Successfully hosting ECOWAS was only the beginning. We now have a post-Summit responsibility,” she stressed, noting that one of the summit’s most significant achievements was sparking public awareness of ECOWAS, particularly among young people who engaged in discussions about the regional bloc for the first time.
Sesay emphasised that regional integration must not remain “an abstract concept,” arguing that stronger public understanding is essential for advancing cooperation on security, trade, economic growth, and development across West Africa.
She pointed to the adoption of the ECOWAS Compact for the Future and the implementation of Vision 2050 as evidence of a shift towards an “ECOWAS of the People,” placing citizens at the centre of regional integration and development.
Highlighting President Julius Maada Bio’s message at the summit, Sesay said countries achieve greater progress by pursuing clear priorities with responsibility. She described this as one of the key governance lessons Sierra Leone should take forward.
From a civil society perspective, Sesay underscored the role of organisations like CGG in sustaining public dialogue and holding government accountable for commitments made during major national engagements.
“Our role is to ensure these conversations continue. We keep important national issues on the public agenda and remind government of the commitments it has made,” she said.
She further urged government to apply the same level of coordination, leadership, and commitment demonstrated during the ECOWAS Summit to Sierra Leone’s broader development agenda.
“If we identify the critical reforms that can transform this country and pursue them with the same seriousness demonstrated during the Summit, Sierra Leone’s development can accelerate significantly,” Sesay concluded.
