16 Jul 2010
(L-R) ECOWAS Commissioner, Victor Gbeho & President Koroma
Just before he left Freetown for the United Kingdom yesterday, President Ernest Bai Koroma formally handed over 18 acres of land within the Lungi International Airport to the ECOWAS Commission for the construction of a proposed ECOWAS Peace Support Operations Base in Sierra Leone.
The move came as a result of a decision reached in 2005 by ECOWAS heads of state to establish two logistic bases in the sub-region; namely a humanitarian depot in Mali and a logistic facility in Sierra Leone.
The base will among other things provide storage for all paraphernalia required for “emergency humanitarian response in times of crisis such as floods and civil conflicts.” It will also house facilities for use in times of elections monitoring by ECOWAS as well as enhancing the command operations of the Sierra Leone army when the need arises.
This is contrary to views held in some quarters that the facility shall be utilized for ECOMOG military operations in the sub-region. At an elaborate ceremony held outside the Presidential Lounge of the Airport, President Koroma informed a galaxy of local and foreign dignitaries and members of the Lungi community that he had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the President of the ECOWAS Commission for the establishment of the logistics base in Sierra Leone.
He believed that Sierra Leoneans needed to be grateful after a recent checkered history that saw the positive intervention of the sub-regional body- ECOWAS. “Without an emergency response, there will be no security and without security, there will be no peace and without peace, there will be no socio-economic development…I believe the ECOWAS logistics depot will go a long way to promote peace and security in Sierra Leone and the entire sub-region” he maintained.
He was optimistic about the socio-economic benefits of the facility which he believed would help to provide jobs and livelihoods for residents of Lungi and elsewhere. President Koroma pledged government’s commitment to the ECOWAS Vision 2020 which among other things aims at achieving sub-regional peace, stability and economic prosperity. The president commended ECOWAS for its role in managing and resolving conflict among member countries, concluding, “The project is a fine start in making our people really feels part of the ECOWAS family.”
ECOWAS Commission President, Victor Gbeho expressed gratitude to the people of Sierra Leone and commended President Koroma for accelerating the commencement of the project. “Few months ago, the project was in doubt but today, its first step of land acquisition is a distinct reality” he said, revealing that equipment currently stored at Murray Town in Freetown would be relocated upon completion of the construction work.
He said the Lungi International Airport was selected as a most appropriate location because of its lengthy runway, proximity to a deep sea harbour, a wide road network and the availability of sufficient land for future expansion activities. Earlier, Minister of Transport and Aviation, Alieu Pat Sowe described the project as a laudnable venture for both Sierra Leone and the sub-region and called on the people of Lungi to embrace such good opportunity.
Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Dr. Samura Kamara said ECOWAS was undertaking full cost for the construction of the depot adding, “our budget is therefore well insulated to be able to spend all that is in it on what our Agenda for Change calls for.” The ceremony was climaxed by a conducted tour of the proposed land site by the President and his entourage.