Jendema: ECOWAS, Sierra Leone, and Liberia have officially commenced the construction of a new Joint Border Post at the Jendema-Bo Waterside border. This significant event was marked by a groundbreaking ceremony attended by the Deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development of Sierra Leone, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Titus Williams, senior government officials from both countries, and the Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Damtien Tchintchibidja.
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, the event was a collaborative effort involving key ministries and agencies from Sierra Leone, such as MoPED, Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, and the Ministry of Works. Also present were the Chief Justice of Liberia, ECOWAS Resident Representatives, and other significant stakeholders. The ceremony was warmly welcomed by Paramount Chief Mustapha Massaquoi of Sorogbema Chiefdom and the Chief of Bo Waterside, who praised ECOWAS for its timely intervention and reaffirmed their commitment to peace, security, and economic cooperation between the two communities.
P.C. Massaquoi expressed gratitude towards President Julius Maada Bio, Sierra Leone's Ambassadors to Guinea and Liberia, and former Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Sidi Tunis for their efforts in advancing regional integration. Mr. Patrick Hassan Morlai Koroma, representing the Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized the strong bilateral ties between Sierra Leone and Liberia and the new Joint Border Post's potential to facilitate trade, regional mobility, and improve transport mechanisms.
Rev. Dr. Jonathan Titus Williams, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Planning, applauded President Bio's leadership in regional integration. He urged contractors to maintain professionalism and emphasized the community's role in protecting project materials. He highlighted the Joint Border Post as a symbol of ECOWAS' commitment to sustainable development and strengthened bilateral relations.
Liberia's Chief Justice, His Honor Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay Sr., expressed Liberia's dedication to enhancing regional cooperation and praised the project as a crucial step toward peace, security, and economic advancement. He appreciated the ECOWAS Commission's role in realizing the project.
In her keynote address, H.E. Damtien Tchintchibidja thanked the Presidents of Sierra Leone and Liberia for their support to ECOWAS. She emphasized that the Jendema-Bo Waterside Joint Border Post aligns with ECOWAS Vision 2050, promoting the seamless movement of goods and people, enhanced trade, and deeper economic integration. The project is part of ECOWAS' Regional Transport Facilitation Programme, aiming to reduce transit delays and strengthen cross-border connectivity.
She further assured that the project is fully funded by the ECOWAS Commission as part of its broader regional integration agenda, affirming ECOWAS' continued effort in implementing transformative border projects across West Africa to improve economic cooperation and living conditions for border communities.