Banjul, The Gambia — Hon. Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, Chairman of Sierra Leone’s Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF), delivered a compelling keynote address at the 10th ECOWAS Sustainable Energy Forum (ESEF 2025), held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre on 18th September.
Speaking on the theme “Accelerating the Clean Cooking Transition in West Africa,” Dr. Yumkella emphasized that universal access to clean cooking solutions is vital to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG-7) and advancing health, gender equality, climate resilience, and poverty reduction across the region.
He called for a multi-fuel strategy and stronger collaboration among governments, private sector actors, and development partners to expand access to cleaner cooking technologies. “Our kitchens are the testing grounds of cookstoves, but they also pose silent threats to women’s health and the environment,” Yumkella warned. “It is time to bridge the energy gap by scaling clean cooking interventions and driving a just, fairer, and more equitable energy transition.”
Dr. Yumkella urged ECOWAS member states to adopt a unified regional vision for clean cooking, develop clear standards, and scale deployment of clean technologies. He advocated for carbon finance mechanisms, duty waivers to improve market access, and the creation of National Clean Cooking Alliances to accelerate progress.
Highlighting Sierra Leone’s leadership, Dr. Yumkella noted that President Julius Maada Bio has made food security, energy transition, and climate resilience central to the country’s development agenda. Leveraging President Bio’s role as Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State, Yumkella pledged to mobilize regional support for the ECOWAS Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Master Plan 2026–2036, aiming to achieve energy access for all by 2030.
On the sidelines of the forum, Dr. Yumkella met with The Gambia’s Vice President Muhammad B. S. Jallow, reflecting on the early efforts to establish the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) during his tenure as Director General of UNIDO. He credited support from Austria, Spain, and other EU partners for helping bring ECREEE to life.
Dr. Yumkella also called for urgent reforms within Sierra Leone’s energy sector, urging the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) to reduce losses and improve reliability. He announced that under the new Mission 300 (M300) Energy Compact, Sierra Leone expects to add 180 MW of power by the end of 2026, including 60 MW by March 2026. With Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) investments, the country’s transmission and distribution infrastructure will be rebuilt to enhance grid stability and expand household access.
Launched in 2016 by ECREEE, ESEF has grown into West Africa’s leading platform for shaping energy policy and forging strategic partnerships. This year’s edition convened top government officials, financial institutions, private sector leaders, and civil society to address energy gaps, scale clean cooking solutions, and build a resilient energy future for the region.