St Helena’s air service, operated by Airlink, runs a scheduled weekly service between Johannesburg and St Helena, along with a monthly inter-island service with Ascension Island. In November 2023, the St Helena Government (SHG) announced mid-week flights for the 2024-25 peak season on Tuesdays from Johannesburg and reintroduced Saturday flights from Cape Town. Read More »

State House, Freetown, Wednesday 12 June 2024 – His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has received a booklet containing the report, which includes the facts, findings, and recommendations from the Tribunal to investigate the former Auditor-General, Mrs. Lara Taylor-Pearce and Deputy Auditor-General, Tamba Momoh. Read More »

The Directorate of Customs Union and Taxation of the ECOWAS Commission organized a meeting on the New ECOWAS Transit Procedure from June 10 to 13, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria. The meeting aimed to review the implementation of the Abidjan roadmap and assess the progress of the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT) in member states. Additionally, participants examined the draft transit manual of procedures. Read More »

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has initiated the 2024 Country Resilience and Human Security Assessment in Ghana as of June 10, 2024. This effort is part of the ECOWAS Peace and Security Architecture and Operations (EPSAO) Project, supported by the European Union, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and GIZ. The initiative aims to enhance human security and resilience in the West African sub-region. Read More »

His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., President of the Republic of Liberia, has nominated additional members to the Government, impacting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA). Read More »

Ambassador Amadou DIONGUE, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Benin, received Mrs. Aminatou SAR, the newly accredited Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in the Republic of Benin, on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. Read More »

On Wednesday, May 29, 2024, at the Idriss Déby ITNO Auditorium of the University of Abomey-Calavi, the ECOWAS Representation in Benin organized a public speaking competition to commemorate the 49th anniversary of ECOWAS. The event was themed "Strengthening Regional Unity, Peace and Security" and aimed to foster community citizenship among young people through constructive analysis of ECOWAS's achievements and challenges. Read More »

Port Control recently completed a comprehensive training program to enhance safety and efficiency in crane operations at the port. This initiative follows an internal audit and underscores SHG’s commitment to ensuring the safe and reliable handling of critical cargo supplies. Read More »

In the framework of the implementation of the ECOWAS Quality Policy (ECOQUAL), the ECOWAS Commission held a meeting of Experts of Ministries in charge of Industry to consider draft standards and instruments to ensure quality, reduce technical barriers to trade, and facilitate access to markets at regional, continental, and international levels. Read More »

Experts from various ministries of the economy, finance, social affairs, culture, and the private sector are convening in Cotonou, Benin, from June 12 to 13, 2024. This meeting is part of the process to establish the West African Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC-WA). Initiated by the ECOWAS Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, the aim is to examine and validate structures and processes proposed for making this platform operational. Read More »

His Excellency President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of the Republic of Senegal has concluded a day-long working visit to Sierra Leone, meeting with President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, First Lady Fatima Bio, and other government officials at the Presidency in Freetown. Read More »

A delegation from the Commission of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) is conducting a study mission to the Directorate of External Relations of ECOWAS, specifically with the ECOWAS Development Partners Coordination Unit (EDPCC), from June 10 to 13, 2024. This initiative aims to enhance cooperation between ECOWAS and UEMOA by sharing experiences and best practices in coordinating and implementing programs financed with external resources. Read More »

On June 3, 2024, the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Togo participated in the official launch of humanitarian assistance to victims of the 2022 floods in Togo. This initiative falls under the Mechanism of Humanitarian Response (MEDH) adopted by ECOWAS Member States in 2012. The event took place in Titigbé, Sotouboua Prefecture, Central Region of Togo, under the sponsorship of the Minister of Security and Civil Protection. Read More »

Access Bank PLC has announced the successful completion of its acquisition of African Banking Corporation (Tanzania) Limited, known as BancABC Tanzania. This move aligns with Access Bank's strategic expansion goals and marks a significant step in its journey to become a globally respected African bank. Read More »

The ECOWAS Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs held an online consultation with Member States Directors responsible for child protection from June 5-7, 2024. The meeting focused on the implementation of the ECOWAS Strategic Framework on Child Protection Systems Strengthening. The objectives included assessing the framework's implementation by Member States, identifying emerging child protection trends in the region, and integrating responses into policies and plans. Additionally, the meeting aimed to build capacities in child protection systems strengthening... Read More »

His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., President of the Republic of Liberia, has nominated additional members to the Ministry of National Defense. These appointments are subject to confirmation by the Liberian Senate. Read More »

His Excellency Dr. Alieu Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, received a delegation from the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) on June 11, 2024, at the headquarters of the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, Nigeria. The visit was part of UEMOA's study mission to the ECOWAS Directorate of External Relations and its Unit responsible for coordinating projects with ECOWAS Development Partners (EDPCC). Read More »

President Boakai pays condolence visit to former President Johnson Sirleaf Read More »

Acting in accordance with section 5(2) of the Public Holidays Ordinance, 1945, His Excellency the Governor has directed that Friday, November 15, 2024, shall be observed as a public holiday to mark the occasion of the birthday of His Majesty King Charles III. Read More »

State House, Freetown, Friday 14 June 2024 – Head of Grant Management Division at Global Fund, Mark Eldon-Edington, and his team from Geneva have officially presented a cheque for $136,244,674 to His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio as part of its new grant cycle to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Read More »