President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, has visited Ghana to express the condolences and solidarity of the government and people of Sierra Leone, as well as the ECOWAS community, following the devastating floods that claimed lives and caused widespread destruction across parts of the country.
Speaking during a joint press briefing with President John Dramani Mahama at the Jubilee House in Accra, President Bio described Ghana as Sierra Leone’s “second home” and said the visit underscored the enduring friendship and shared commitment between the two countries.
“I’m here today first and foremost to convey, on behalf of the government and people of the Republic of Sierra Leone and indeed the entire ECOWAS family, our heartfelt condolences and unwavering solidarity with the government and people of Ghana following the recent devastating floods that have claimed lives and caused widespread destruction,” he said.
He extended his sympathies to bereaved families, those injured and thousands of people whose homes, businesses and livelihoods had been affected by the disaster.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families, those who have been injured and all those whose homes, businesses and livelihoods have been affected,” President Bio added.
The Sierra Leonean leader also commended President Mahama for his leadership during the crisis and paid tribute to emergency responders, security personnel, healthcare workers, volunteers, faith-based organisations and ordinary citizens for their efforts in supporting affected communities.
President Bio noted that Sierra Leone has always stood with Ghana during difficult times, just as Ghana has supported Sierra Leone whenever it faced challenges.
“Sierra Leone has always stood with Ghana in moments of challenge, just as Ghana has always stood with Sierra Leone. The enduring spirit of solidarity is one of the defining strengths of the relationship between our two countries,” he stated.
He further described the recent floods as a stark reminder of the growing impact of climate change across West Africa, saying countries in the region were increasingly experiencing floods and landslides worsened by rapid urbanisation, poor drainage systems, unsafe construction and weak enforcement of planning and environmental regulations.
According to President Bio, climate change is no longer solely an environmental issue but also a development, humanitarian, economic and security challenge that requires collective action.
“As African leaders, we must strengthen disaster preparedness, invest in resilient infrastructure, improve urban planning, protect our environment and deepen regional cooperation so that our countries are better equipped to withstand these increasingly complex challenges,” he said.
He stressed that no West African country could address such challenges alone, calling for stronger regional cooperation to build a more resilient and prosperous sub-region.
“In West Africa, when one nation suffers, we all feel the pain, and that is why I’m here today. I’ve come not only as a fellow President, but as a brother from Sierra Leone and as Chair of the ECOWAS Authority to say to the people of Ghana: you are not alone. Your sorrow is ours, and together we will overcome these challenges,” he said.
President Bio disclosed that he and President Mahama also held bilateral discussions on regional peace and security, democratic governance and economic integration ahead of the upcoming ECOWAS Summit in Freetown.
He praised Ghana’s longstanding contribution to regional integration, describing the country as a pillar of ECOWAS, and reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with fellow leaders to strengthen peace, constitutional order and economic cooperation across West Africa.
