By Alusine Sesay
Bintumani International Conference Centre, Freetown, Sunday, 12 July 2026 — The 39th Session of the ECOWAS Administration and Finance Committee (AFC) opened today in Freetown, launching a week of statutory meetings that will culminate in the 2026 ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit. Delegates from twelve Member States convened to deliberate on critical administrative, financial, and institutional matters shaping the Community’s future.
Chairman of the AFC, Mr. Komba Momoh, welcomed delegates and expressed gratitude to President Dr. Julius Maada Bio, Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, for his leadership in advancing regional integration.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio for his outstanding leadership as Chairman of ECOWAS. I encourage all delegates to participate actively so that our deliberations yield meaningful outcomes for the benefit of our Community,” Mr. Momoh stated.
He underscored the Committee’s central role in ensuring governance, financial accountability, and institutional efficiency, urging members to confront emerging challenges with practical solutions that strengthen ECOWAS’s capacity to deliver on its mandate.
Speaking on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission, Vice President H.E. Damtien L. Tchintchibidja reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to sound financial management and institutional reforms. She called for deeper collaboration among Member States to tackle pressing regional issues including peace and security, climate change, youth unemployment, and institutional resilience.
The AFC session marks the first in a series of high-level engagements leading to the Mid-Year Summit, where policy recommendations will be considered and key decisions adopted to advance integration, economic cooperation, peace, and sustainable development across West Africa.
As host, Sierra Leone continues to reinforce its role at the center of regional diplomacy under President Bio’s chairmanship, welcoming hundreds of delegates, ministers, experts, and development partners to Freetown for the week-long ECOWAS engagements.