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Chief Minister Dr David Moinina Sengeh has clarified that the widely discussed US$124 million associated with Sierra Leone’s hosting of the recent ECOWAS Mid-Year Statutory Meetings was not the cost of staging the event, but an investment in permanent national infrastructure.
Speaking at a government press conference held at the Miatta Civic Centre in Freetown on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, Dr Sengeh, who served as National Coordinator for the ECOWAS summit, said the funding is being used to develop facilities that will serve the country long after the regional meetings have ended.
He explained that the investment covers the construction of a new international conference centre, a hotel, and presidential villas, all of which are intended to strengthen Sierra Leone’s capacity to host major international conferences, regional summits, and other high-profile national events. According to him, the infrastructure projects are expected to be completed by November 2026.
Dr Sengeh said Sierra Leone’s responsibilities as host extended beyond a single meeting and included several phases of the ECOWAS Mid-Year Statutory Meetings, such as the Summit of the Future and the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
He noted that the engagements involved multiple sessions with designated speakers and delegates to facilitate complex regional discussions. The meetings were held at different venues, including the Bintumani International Conference Centre in Freetown and the Julius Maada Bio International Conference Centre in Lungi.
Reflecting on the outcome of the summit, the Chief Minister described the successful hosting as part of the government’s broader strategy to position Sierra Leone as a preferred destination for international conferences and diplomacy while expanding national infrastructure.
He said the investments align with the government’s vision of transforming Sierra Leone into an inclusive middle-income country by 2039, consistent with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr Sengeh called on citizens to support the country’s long-term development agenda, emphasising that while economic challenges remain, the infrastructure projects represent a strategic investment aimed at delivering lasting national benefits.
