Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Sierra Leone’s Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, officially launched the ECOWAS Social Protection Framework and Operational Plan at the ECOWAS Commission headquarters in Abuja.
Delivering his keynote address at the hybrid meeting, Hon. Swaray extended greetings on behalf of President Julius Maada Bio, who also serves as Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government. He lauded the technical working group behind the framework for developing a tool that is not just policy-driven, but people-focused.
“This is not just another policy document; it is a roadmap to shield our people, especially the most vulnerable, from sliding into poverty,” he stated.
He also emphasised that Sierra Leone’s national commitment to social protection is a cornerstone of its development agenda.
Minister Swaray highlighted significant progress under President Bio’s leadership, citing major reforms that integrate social protection into governance and legal frameworks, such as revising the national social protection policy to include age-appropriate interventions in 2019, developing a shock-responsive social safety net strategy, factoring in resilience to climate change and other emergencies in 2020 and passing into law the Social Protection Act, establishes a dedicated Social Protection Agency to mobilize resources, eliminate fragmentation, and enhance efficiency.
Minister. Swaray underlined that the framework and operational plan are not temporary measures, but enduring instruments aligned with the ECOWAS Vision 2050, which envisions a community that guarantees a higher standard of living and human dignity for all.
“Investing in social protection is not merely about addressing today’s vulnerability,” he remarked. “It is about shaping the socioeconomic trajectory of West Africa for decades to come.”
Presenting the framework, ECOWAS Programme Officer Abinbola Oyelohunnu stressed the need for collective ownership of the initiative. She emphasised that while the framework is a regional achievement, its implementation must be driven by collaboration between governments, civil society, and development partners.
“Social protection is not a privilege, it is a right,” she declared. “ECOWAS cannot implement this alone. Adequate funding and shared responsibility are essential to expanding coverage.”
Hon. Swaray was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Ambassador Ernest Ndomahina, Commissioner, National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), Mr. Abu Kokofele, Director-General, National Social Protection Authority (NSPA) and Mr. Arnold Osman Sesay, Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security.
Also present at the launch of this landmark document was Dr. Julius F. Sandy, Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chair of the Permanent Representative Committee (PRC), underscoring the diplomatic and strategic importance of the event for Sierra Leone’s growing leadership role within the ECOWAS region.
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