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Dr. Moses Tiffa Baio, Sierra Leone’s Chief Immigration Officer, has been appointed Chairperson of the ECOWAS Heads of Immigration (HoI) Forum during its 9th annual meeting held from 14th to 16th October 2025 in Cotonou, Benin.
He pledged to strengthen border management, facilitate the free movement of people, and support the implementation of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identification Card.
The forum, which brings together immigration officials from ECOWAS member states, provides a platform to discuss issues related to mobility, migration, and regional integration.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Baio emphasized that “the sub-region is experiencing high intra-regional mobility influenced by trade, socio-cultural dynamics, family ties, labor migration, and environmental conditions,” adding that the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement remains vital for promoting economic cooperation.
Dr. Baio conveyed warm greetings from President Julius Maada Bio, who chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State, and expressed gratitude to the President of Benin for hosting the meeting.
He also highlighted Sierra Leone’s progress in implementing the biometric ECOWAS identity card, launched officially by President Bio in 2023 and fully operational since 2024. “Since January 2025, Gbalamuya and Jendema border posts have recorded 2,486 ECOWAS citizens using the card to cross into Liberia and Guinea,” he noted, encouraging other member states to follow Sierra Leone’s example.
Highlighting the vision of ECOWAS, Dr. Baio reminded participants that regional integration is not only a political goal but an economic and social necessity. He urged colleagues to view borders not as barriers but as gateways for safe mobility, trade, and regional solidarity. “If West Africans can move freely, safely, and lawfully, our economy grows, our culture is enriched, and our unity deepens,” he said, calling for strengthened border management, humane migration practices, and trusted identity systems.
The annual HoI meeting reviews reports from thematic expert sessions on border management and labor migration, assesses progress on the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card, identifies challenges, and determines areas requiring additional technical support. The forum continues to play a critical role in advancing regional integration and socio-economic development across West Africa.
