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Sierra Leone’s Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs, Melrose Karminty, has emerged as a leading voice in regional governance following her presiding role at the high-level ECOWAS ministerial validation meeting on operationalising the bloc’s civil society framework.
The meeting, held on 13 March 2026 in Accra, Ghana, brought together ministers and delegates from across West Africa to adopt foundational documents for the ECOWAS Economic, Social, and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC).
Welcoming participants, Minister Karminty emphasized the importance of embedding citizen voices into ECOWAS decision-making processes, framing the initiative as a key step toward democratic governance and social cohesion. Speaking on behalf of Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, who currently chairs the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, she underscored the need for institutional evolution in addressing regional challenges.
“ECOWAS must demonstrate capacity to adapt and strengthen ties between governance structures and the citizens it serves,” Minister Karminty asserted, highlighting her personal commitment to ensuring the platform amplifies voices from civil society, private sector actors, women, and youth. She further noted that operationalising ECOSOCC would provide these groups with the tools to influence policies directly affecting communities across the region.
Minister Karminty’s stewardship earned commendation from Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, who hailed the meeting as a milestone in citizen participation. Delegates from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo engaged in deliberations that resulted in adopting ECOSOCC’s rationale, structure, mandate, and membership framework, alongside a three-year work programme and indicative budget.
Through her leadership at the summit, Minister Karminty has reinforced Sierra Leone’s reputation as a proactive regional actor committed to inclusive governance, citizen engagement, and sustainable development, while establishing herself as a central figure in advancing ECOWAS reforms.
