The latest high-level seminar of the ECOWAS parliament opened in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on the theme of “Illegal mining and its consequences in the ECOWAS sub-region”.
The opening ceremony was presided over by the Head of State of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio. He took the opportunity to deliver a speech in which he urged the honourable members of the ECOWAS Parliament to work hard and collaborate to rapidly put in place solid legal and regulatory frameworks capable of effectively combating the illegal exploitation of minerals.
According to President Julius Maada Bio, illegal mining continues to have a negative impact on peace, stability, security, development, governance, the rule of law, the environment and the economy in the sub-region.
He concluded his speech by praising the ECOWAS Parliament’s constant efforts to strengthen the democratic process and promote good governance in the sub-region in general, and in his country, Sierra Leone, in particular.
Lokombe Nkalulu
Editor-in-Chief of Afriqu’Europe magazine
