By Kelfala Kargbo
Freetown, 4th May 2026- In preparation for the West Africa Economic Integration and Investment Summit 2026, the Expert Group Meeting and Ministerial Conference have concluded a two-day high-level engagement, charting solutions that will drive development in Energy, Mining, Agriculture and Digitalization among ECOWAS member states.
The conference, convened in Freetown, under the theme “Powering Regional Integration through: Energy Trade, Strategic Minerals, Agribusiness and Digital Transformation”, brought together stakeholders across member states, focusing on developing a coordinated pathway across four strategic pillars.
The meeting drew Ministers, senior technical experts, development partners and private sector actors, all working toward a shared regional vision anchored on investment, industrial growth and deeper integration within ECOWAS.
Speaking to journalists, the Special Envoy for the West African Investment and Integration Summit 2026, Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, said the conference was to have an in-depth look at the technical documents that over 100 experts across the region and other development partners had presented, adding that it sets the agenda for the summit.
He said that for the longest time, there had not been an open discussion between experts and policymakers.
“Experts have been complaining that they talk to themselves without policymakers in the room. We have deliberately brought them together,” said Yumkella.
He noted that the selected pillars are the main drivers of Africa’s economy, saying that they can attract investment and exploration across the pillars.
At the close of the conference, a detailed communiqué was developed, now referred to as the “Freetown Communiqué” and was presented to President Julius Maada Bio, who also chairs the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.
The communiqué captures a broad set of commitments and policy directions agreed upon during the two-day engagement. It emphasizes energy trade and industrial growth as a foundation for regional competitiveness, including plans to expand cross-border electricity trading and invest in transmission infrastructure.
On mining, participants highlighted the need for responsible and transparent resource governance, proposing mechanisms such as a regional minerals exploration fund and a digital cadastre system to improve data integrity and attract sustainable investment.
In agriculture, the focus was on reducing food imports and strengthening regional food systems through large-scale agribusiness investments, improved value chains and the removal of trade barriers within the region.
Digital transformation also featured strongly, with commitments to expand digital infrastructure, strengthen cybersecurity frameworks and promote innovation ecosystems that can support youth employment and cross-border trade.
The communiqué further outlines financing strategies, partnerships with major development institutions, and a roadmap for implementation ahead of the 2026 summit. It also calls for stronger coordination among member states and sets the stage for a monitoring mechanism to track progress.
The meeting concluded with a unified commitment from participants to advance regional integration through practical investment-driven actions, positioning the upcoming summit as a key moment for translating policy into real economic outcomes for West Africa.
