President John Dramani Mahama on Friday June 3, hosted Sierra Leone’s President, His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, in Accra for a one-day state visit focused on flood recovery efforts, regional cooperation and broader issues affecting the West African sub-region.
The visit comes at a difficult time for Ghana following the recent devastating floods that swept through several communities after days of heavy rainfall, leaving thousands displaced and causing extensive destruction to homes and infrastructure.
During bilateral discussions, President Bio, who currently serves as Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, conveyed condolences and solidarity to the people of Ghana over the tragedy.
He expressed sympathy to families who lost relatives and communities affected by the disaster, while reaffirming Sierra Leone’s support for Ghana during the recovery process.
Addressing the media after the meeting, President Mahama said government has intensified emergency response efforts to assist affected communities and restore normal life in flood-hit areas.
According to him, the Ghana Armed Forces and the Joint Task Force have been deployed to support ongoing recovery operations, including desilting drains, clearing blocked waterways and assisting rescue and relief operations in affected communities.
President Mahama further disclosed that the Minister for Finance has released emergency resources from the Contingency Fund to support relief operations being coordinated by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and other state institutions.
He revealed that preliminary assessments from the disaster indicate that approximately 48,000 people have been displaced by the floods, while 12 deaths have so far been confirmed.
Several persons, he added, are still unaccounted for as rescue teams continue search and recovery operations.
The President stressed government’s commitment to ensuring that displaced residents receive the necessary humanitarian support while long-term measures are implemented to address recurring flooding in vulnerable communities.
Beyond the flood situation, the two leaders also discussed matters relating to regional security, democratic governance and economic cooperation within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The consultations form part of preparations toward the upcoming ECOWAS summit expected to take place in Sierra Leone, where regional leaders are anticipated to deliberate on security concerns, economic integration and democratic stability across West Africa.
President Julius Maada Bio highlighted the growing threat posed by climate change to countries within the region and called for stronger collaboration among ECOWAS member states in tackling environmental challenges, poor urban planning and disaster preparedness.
He emphasized that flooding and climate-related disasters are increasingly becoming a regional concern that requires coordinated action, investment in resilient infrastructure and improved emergency response systems.
The Sierra Leonean leader also reaffirmed the strong diplomatic ties between Ghana and Sierra Leone, describing the relationship between the two countries as one built on shared history, cooperation and mutual respect.
Friday’s meeting between the two presidents further reinforced the commitment of both nations to deepening regional integration and strengthening ECOWAS cooperation in promoting peace, stability and sustainable development across West Africa.
By 1960news.com
