Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Minister of Planning and Economic Development (MoPED), H.E. Madam Kenyeh Barlay, together with the ECOWAS Resident Representative to Sierra Leone, H.E. Ambassador John Azumah, handed over the Wai Cross-Border Market Project for Construction.
The Wai Cross-Border Market project, MoPED/ECOWAS/RB/WORKS/2025/001, falls under the ECOWAS Cross-Border Cooperation Support Programme (ECBCSP) through the Directorate of Free Movement and Migration, and is implemented by MoPED with the Ministry of Works and Public Assets providing supervisory oversight. Sierra Brothers Construction Services (SL) Limited is contracted to execute the project, which is strategically located at a key economic corridor linking more than seven major crossing points between Sierra Leone and Liberia.
The initiative is aligned with the ECBCSP 2023–2027 operations officially launched in May 2024 in Freetown, designed to strengthen regional peace and security, manage migration and free movement, and promote joint socio-economic development in border communities. It reflects growing cooperation between ECOWAS, the Government of Sierra Leone, local councils, and community leadership.
During the ceremony, the Chiefdom Speaker, Mr. Augustine Kah Zoker, expressed heartfelt appreciation to ECOWAS and the Government for bringing tangible development to a community as remote as Wai. Paramount Chief P.C. Mustapha J. Massaquio also applauded MoPED for actualizing the long-anticipated market project and encouraged his people to utilize the opportunity to enhance livelihoods and security. He appealed for further development interventions for the Sorogbema Chiefdom.
Representing the contractor, Construction Manager Ibrahim Kawa assured community members that the project would be completed within four months, noting that 80 percent of the workforce would be recruited locally to promote ownership and economic benefit.
Also, Ambassador Azumah emphasized the importance of the project in advancing regional trade, cooperation, and social cohesion. He reiterated ECOWAS’s transition from an “ECOWAS of States” to an “ECOWAS of People,” underscoring community-centered development as central to the institution’s 50-year journey.
He highlighted Sierra Leone’s contributions to regional integration and expressed appreciation for the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio, especially in his role as Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State. He conveyed warm greetings from the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting Sierra Leone’s development agenda.
Minister Kenyeh Barlay, delivering the keynote address, celebrated the economic potential of Sorogbema Chiefdom, which she described as endowed with rich beaches, vibrant fisheries, and strong agricultural productivity. She noted that these sectors are critical pillars of the Big Five Game Changers and the Medium-Term National Development Plan (MTNDP) 2024–2030. She emphasized that the project aligns with ECOWAS Vision 2050 and Sierra Leone’s national priorities, particularly the Feed Salone Programme.
The Minister encouraged community residents to embrace the opportunity, noting that the new market would boost local commerce, stimulate cross-border trade, and improve living standards.
The Minister announced plans to incorporate cold storage facilities into the market design to enhance fisheries and agricultural value chains. She also discussed the importance of strengthening the District Development Coordination Committee (DDCC) and improving coordination between island and mainland communities.
The ceremony ended with a renewed commitment from all partners to deepen development cooperation, strengthen regional ties, and support sustainable growth in Sierra Leone, with the Wai Market expected to become an important engine of trade and livelihoods for thousands of border residents.
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