New NDMA Leadership Meets Turkish Ambassador to Boost Disaster Preparedness

The newly appointed leadership of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) has met with the Turkish Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Burak Rende, as part of efforts to strengthen international partnerships aimed at improving the country’s disaster preparedness and response systems.

The courtesy visit, held at the Turkish Embassy in Freetown, served as an introductory engagement and an opportunity to explore new avenues for collaboration.

During the meeting, NDMA’s Director General, John V. Rogers, said the visit formed part of the Agency’s broader strategy to foster strategic alliances that support disaster risk reduction, risk financing, risk communication, and humanitarian response operations.

He highlighted key milestones since the NDMA’s establishment under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio, noting the President’s commitment to building a resilient nation capable of managing disaster risks effectively.

Ambassador Burak Rende congratulated the new NDMA leadership and welcomed their proactive approach, expressing Turkey’s readiness to collaborate through the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA). He affirmed that such cooperation could significantly boost Sierra Leone’s disaster management capabilities.

Deputy Director General Sulaiman B. Sowa also assured the Embassy of the Agency’s commitment to nurturing meaningful and results-driven partnerships.

“Our leadership is determined to deepen cooperation with partners who share our vision for a safer and more resilient Sierra Leone,” Sowa said. “We look forward to building practical, results-oriented collaborations with the Government and people of Turkey.”

The NDMA delegation included the Director General, John V. Rogers; Deputy Director General, Sulaiman B. Sowa; Chief of Operations, Kai Banya; and Director of Finance, Morie Basie Karteh.

The new NDMA leadership reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging global partnerships to strengthen national resilience, improve disaster preparedness, and protect lives and livelihoods across Sierra Leone.