The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has donated 500 metric tons of white rice to Sierra Leone as part of its ongoing commitment to regional food security and humanitarian support.
The donation, made through the ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve, was formally handed over in Bo City to the Government of Sierra Leone to support vulnerable populations and bolster the national “Feed Salone” initiative.
Ambassador John Azumah, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Sierra Leone, presented the consignment on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Alieu Omar Touray, and the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs. Massandjé Touré-Litsé. Receiving the food aid was Dr. Therisa Tenneh Dick, Deputy Minister 1 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
In his remarks, Ambassador Azumah reaffirmed ECOWAS’s commitment to alleviating hunger across member states and praised President Julius Maada Bio on his recent appointment as Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.
“This intervention is a tangible expression of solidarity with the people of Sierra Leone during a time of growing food insecurity,” Azumah stated.
The initiative underscores ECOWAS’s strategic approach to food sovereignty by promoting a three-tier food reserve structure—local, national, and regional—that enhances the region’s capacity to manage risks and respond to emergencies effectively.
