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The Government of Sierra Leone has received a donation of 15 presidential vehicles from the Government of the People’s Republic of China ahead of the 69th Ordinary Summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The disclosure was made by the State House Communications Director, Myk Berewa, who said the vehicle donation reflects the country’s growing international partnerships and support for hosting major regional engagements.
Berewa noted that the donation comes as Sierra Leone intensifies preparations to host the upcoming ECOWAS Summit, adding that the vehicles will support the movement and logistics of visiting Heads of State and other high-level delegates expected to attend the regional gathering.
He emphasized that the donation demonstrates the benefits of Sierra Leone’s diplomatic engagement with international partners, describing it as an outcome of the government’s efforts to strengthen bilateral relations.
Drawing a distinction between the current administration’s preparations for the ECOWAS Summit and Sierra Leone’s hosting of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) Summit in the 1980s, Berewa stated that the two events differ significantly in terms of financing.
According to him, unlike the OAU Summit, where substantial public funds were reportedly spent on the construction of luxury hotels and the OAU Village, the infrastructure being developed for the ECOWAS Summit is being financed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
He explained that the ongoing construction of the Lungi Congress Centre and Presidential Villas is being undertaken under a US$124 million PPP arrangement financed through a bank loan secured by Turkish developer FB Group. He added that the Government of Sierra Leone is serving only as guarantor for the financing and is not providing direct funding from the national budget or taxpayers’ money.
Berewa said the combination of international partnerships, private sector investment, and bilateral cooperation underscores the government’s approach to delivering key infrastructure and logistical support for the successful hosting of the 69th ECOWAS Summit.
