Sierra Leone Elected to Seat at African Committee on Rights And Welfare of Child

Sierra Leone achieved a significant victory in a competitive election for seats on the African Committee of Experts by securing a position on the Committee on the Rights and Welfare of the Child at the African Union Sessions.

This information was confirmed in a news release from the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MoGCA).

The Ministry announced that Chief Joseph Sunday Sinnah was warmly welcomed on Monday, February 17, 2025, following his successful election to the committee.

A celebratory event was held at the Ministry’s headquarters in Freetown, bringing together key officials such as the Minister of Gender, her deputy, Permanent Secretary Mrs. Aminata Sannoh, Director of Planning and Policy Ibrahim Kamara, Director of Children’s Affairs Mrs. Joyce Kamara, and other senior officials. Minister Dr. Isata Mahoi commended Chief Sinnah’s achievement as a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to protect children.

“This victory is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in advocating for child rights in Sierra Leone. We are proud of you and the entire delegation that made this possible,” she stated. Mahoi reiterated MoGCA’s commitment to enhancing child protection policies and ensuring the effective implementation of Child Rights laws.

Director Ibrahim Kamara recounted the rigorous election process, which lasted four sessions before Sierra Leone emerged victorious. “It was a challenging journey, filled with sleepless nights, but our collective efforts have paid off,” he remarked. Director Joyce Kamara presented Chief Sinnah with a bouquet as a token of appreciation for his remarkable achievement.

In his acceptance speech, Chief Sinnah expressed gratitude to MoGCA for its unwavering support. “This victory is not just mine, but for Sierra Leone as a whole,” Sinnah assured, adding, “We will continue to work tirelessly to protect the rights of children.”

The ministry’s news dispatch did not specify the exact date of the upcoming elections. However, it is worth noting that there have been multiple leadership elections at the African continental level in February 2025.