Sierra Leone and Liberia have taken a major step toward deepening regional cooperation with the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Jendema–Bo Waterside Joint Border Post, a flagship project under the ECOWAS Vision 2050. The ceremony, held in Jendema, Sierra Leone, was graced by senior government officials from both countries, traditional leaders, and representatives of the ECOWAS Commission, led by its Vice President, H.E. Damtient Tchintchibidja. The deputy Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Rev. Dr. Jonathan Titus Williams, representing Minister Kenyeh Barlay, commended President Julius Maada Bio for his commitment to regional integration.
He emphasized that the border post is not only a trade facility but also a testament to ECOWAS’s dedication to sustainable development among member states. Rev. Dr. Williams urged contractors and community members to safeguard building materials and ensure the project’s timely completion. He further encouraged the Jendema–Bo Waterside community to take ownership of the initiative, highlighting its potential to boost trade, security, and bilateral cooperation. Welcoming the delegation, Paramount Chief Mustapha Massaquoi of Sorogbema Chiefdom and the Chief of Bo Waterside applauded ECOWAS’s intervention, pledging to sustain peace and economic integration in their communities.
Chief Massaquoi also praised President Bio, Sierra Leone’s ambassadors in Guinea and Liberia, and former Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Sidi Tunis for their contributions to the initiative. From Liberia, Chief Justice Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay Sr., also serving as Attorney General and Minister of Justice, reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to strengthening cooperation in the sub-region. He described the border post as a bridge for peace, trade integration, and economic advancement, assuring ECOWAS of Liberia’s full support.
Delivering the keynote address, Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Damtient Tchintchibidja, expressed gratitude to President Bio, current Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State, and President Joseph Nyuma Boakai of Liberia for their leadership. She underscored the importance of high-quality and timely completion of the project, noting that it aligns with ECOWAS’s regional transport facilitation program. “This border post is designed to reduce transit delays, enhance trade efficiency, and strengthen cross-border collaboration between Sierra Leone and Liberia,” she said.
“It reflects ECOWAS’s broader vision of seamless movement of people and goods across West Africa.” She further highlighted similar ECOWAS-led projects in Benin, Togo, Senegal, Burkina Faso, and other member states, all aimed at improving the lives of citizens in border communities. The Jendema–Bo Waterside Joint Border Post is fully funded by the ECOWAS Commission and represents a strategic investment in regional integration. Once completed, it is expected to facilitate trade, ease migration challenges, and strengthen socio-economic ties between Sierra Leone and Liberia, while advancing ECOWAS’s long-term vision of a more connected and prosperous West Africa.
