Freetown, 28th April 2026- Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Fatima Maada Bio, has launched the 2026 ECOWAS Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) Programme alongside a High‑Level Policy Dialogue on Clean Cooking, Gender Equality, and Child Protection, describing the initiative as a “national emergency and public health crisis.”
The event, held in Freetown, brought together ECOWAS officials, African First Ladies, the Clean Cooking Alliance, PIECREF, and the Government of Sierra Leone. It marks a regional push to tackle Africa’s growing crisis of limited access to clean cooking.
Globally, more than 9.6 million people lack access to clean cooking, with 3.7 million deaths annually linked to smoke and toxic fumes — the majority among women and children. In Sierra Leone, the situation is particularly dire: only 1.5% of the population has access to clean cooking, while over 98% still rely on firewood and biomass. Even the national School Feeding Programme, which serves more than 600,000 children, continues to prepare meals with firewood.
“This is not just an environmental issue — it is a national emergency,” the First Lady said. “For millions of African women, this is not a choice. It is a daily reality.”
Fatima Bio expressed gratitude to President Julius Maada Bio, in his capacity as ECOWAS Chairman, and to international partners for their commitment. She also announced her new role as Regional Clean Cooking Champion for West Africa, pledging to mobilize action across the region.
“I call on all of us to act together and ensure that no woman dies due to lack of access to clean cooking,” she declared. “Let us seize this opportunity to transform how we cook in our homes and kitchens.”
