By: Idrissa Bangura
Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Madam Kenyah Barlay, laid in Parliament the 2025 Annual Report of the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Centre. The laying of the report took place in the Well of Parliament.
Submitting the report, Minister Kenyah Barley said that the National Early Warning Response Mechanism Centre is a vital hub for the Economic Community of West Africa’s States (ECOWAS) early warning and response network. She expressed elation to laying the report on the 28th May, a date regarded as an ECOWAS Day and the 51st anniversay of ECOWAS, at a time the country’s President is chairing ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Government.
Recalling the previous tabling of the report, Minister Barley poignantly maintained that it was indeed a year ago when she stood before the Honorable House to lay the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Centre’s report.
She further pointed out that she had also played her statutory responsibility to lay before the House the 2025 Annual Report of the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Centre.
In her explanation of what the report contains, Madam Kenyah Barley said the 2025 annual report contains 52 reports in a form of alert, and some of the reports are: Situation reports, joint reports and monthly mass reports, for which they could not underestimate the security, economic and social benefits, furthering that the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism is a game changer in itself.
She disclosed that the form and approach is from being reactive to overly proactive, and it is a vital step to protect the citizens of Sierra Leone.
She underscored the extreme importance of every other institutions to adhere to the warning provided by the centre, stressing that the data and insights are only valuable if we act on them.
ECOWAS’ day was on 28th May and the theme for this year is “building a brighter future”
Ambassador Azunah said 51 years is not a mean achievement, as ECOWAS’ has been able to establish common trade, provide humanitarian support to member states, build social facilities and secure funds for the building of sanitary pads center in Kono, as well as promoting gender equality and youth employment.
Ambassador John Azunah said this has not been done without challenges such as: Food security and democratic governance, and that despite these challenges ECOWAS is proud of the gains it has made. He stated they should confront “if we are to have a brighter future for our people”
He went on to state that “we have to appreciate our people or government for the resistance against these challenges”, and commended the Minister for overcoming these challenges.
Minister Barley noted that since she was appointed, she has been up and running to actualize the Lungi Center and that if completed, it will add a feather to the progress being made in the country, and expressed hope that it will be completed by the end of June .
She made it categorically clear that the place is not an ECOWAS’ center, and once completed, it will host more conferences
The Executive Director for the Early Warning Secretariat paid tribute to the move by the Minister and the ECOWAS’ Country Rep John Azunah for coming, and looked forward to working more closely.
She Promised to work with her team to achieve the set goals and commended all staff for working tirelessly for the tabling of the Report.
The ceremony was Chaired at the Aberdeen Road Office by Ambrose James, Development Secretary.
