Sierra Leone’s Chief Immigration Officer (CIO), Hon. Alusine Kanneh has graced the graduation ceremony of 182 Liberia Immigration Service (LIS).

They revealed that this is the batch 7 In Training under the Theme:”LIS; Spirited, Rejuvenated to Serve”

The Chief Immigration Officer talked about the importance of ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC), ECOWAS Brown Card, and Mano River Protocol and the inter-Relationship between and amongst Sierra Leone and the Republic of Liberia as well as the essence of acquiring an ECOWAS identity cards which he said it easily helps in identifying individual traveling across the ECOWAS borders.

He furthered that, the graduation ceremony remains one of the most memorable events in anybody’s life due to the result of commitment shown by graduates during their course of study. He therefore encouraged graduates to show the very same commitment in execution of their duties as Immigration Officers and endeavor to make a difference for the greater good in shaping the destiny of the region, adding that, the cornerstones of regional integration are the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol, stating that this protocol embodies the vision of a borderless West Africa allowing citizens to move freely, reside, and establish business in any member state.

“The Mano River Protocol is a sub-regional initiative that focuses on cooperation among the countries within the Mano River Union, namely Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire. This protocol emphasises collaboration efforts in areas such as economic development, environmental conversation, and peace building. It is a testament to the shared history and common aspirations of the people within this sub-region.” He stated.

As he admonished graduates, the Sierra Leone’s Chief Immigration Officer Hon. Alusine Kanneh also emphasised the relationship between Sierra Leone and Liberia, noting that the two countries are prime examples of the benefits of these ECOWAS initiatives. He said both countries have experienced the transformative power of regional cooperation. Through the ENBIC, the CIO added that citizens of Sierra Leone and Liberia can travel more freely and securely, strengthening familiarity and business ties.

Atty. Stephen J.H. Zargo, Commissioner General for the Liberia Immigration Service, congratulated the graduates and called on them to be patriots in executing their functions.

Commissioner General for the Liberia Immigration Service thanked and appreciated the United Nations Development Program for their tremendous efforts in supporting them towards the training of 182 LIS Officers. He disclosed that they have over 176 porous borders to secure but their staff strength and capacity is low for all the borders between Liberia and other Mano River countries.

During his visit, Sierra Leone’s Chief Immigration Officer, Hon. Alusine Kanneh also paid a courtesy call on the Sierra Leone Ambassy in Liberia where he met with Ambassador Eddie Massally and his Team. The CIO thanked and appreciated the visit while applauding the sustained performance on all sides to reinforce the strong bond of cooperation and mutual respect between the two sister countries.