“From Being on the Table to Leading the Table”: CGG Reflects on Sierra Leone’s ECOWAS Milestone

Executive Director of the Campaign for Good Governance (CGG), Marcella Samba Sesay, has described Sierra Leone’s successful hosting of the 69th Ordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government as a defining moment of national recovery, saying the country has transitioned “from being on the table to leading the table.”

Speaking at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s weekly press briefing on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, Samba Sesay said Sierra Leone’s role as host and Chair of the regional bloc represents a remarkable transformation from a period when the country’s affairs were frequently discussed by ECOWAS leaders to a time when it is now providing leadership within the sub-region.

“From being on the table, we are now leading the table. This is a moment of emotional recovery for Sierra Leone,” she said, describing the Summit as a powerful symbol of the country’s democratic progress and growing regional influence.

She noted that the successful organisation of the Summit should not be viewed as the end of a national achievement but rather the beginning of a broader responsibility to strengthen civic engagement, deepen public understanding of ECOWAS, and promote regional integration.

According to Samba Sesay, one of the Summit’s most significant achievements was increasing public awareness of ECOWAS, particularly among young people who, for the first time, actively engaged in discussions about the regional organisation and its role in advancing peace, trade, security, and economic development.

She said the adoption of the ECOWAS Compact for the Future and the implementation of Vision 2050 reflect a renewed commitment to building “an ECOWAS of the People,” where citizens play a central role in shaping the region’s future alongside governments.

The CGG Executive Director also highlighted President Julius Maada Bio’s message during the Summit that countries make greater progress by pursuing clear priorities with responsibility, describing it as an important lesson in effective governance and national development.

From a civil society perspective, she said organisations such as the Campaign for Good Governance have a responsibility to ensure that the momentum generated by the ECOWAS Summit is sustained through continued public engagement and accountability.

“Our role is to keep these conversations alive, maintain public interest in national issues, and remind government of the commitments it has made,” she said.

Samba Sesay further urged the government to replicate the level of planning, coordination, and leadership demonstrated during the ECOWAS Summit in implementing key national development priorities.

She expressed confidence that if Sierra Leone applies the same determination shown in hosting the regional gathering to critical reforms, the country will accelerate its development and further strengthen its position as a respected leader within the ECOWAS community.