Sierra Leone Aviation Chief Urges Stronger Regional Safety Cooperation

Sierra Leone has called for stronger regional cooperation and shared technical capacity to improve aviation safety and regulatory oversight.

Musayeroh Barrie, Director General of the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority, made the case during the third Global Regional Safety Oversight Organizations and Regional Accident and Incident Investigation Organizations Forum for Aviation Safety, held in Georgetown, Guyana, from September 29 to 30, 2026.

The forum took place at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre and was jointly organized by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. It was hosted by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority and brought together delegates from nearly 60 countries.

Call for coordinated oversight

Barrie addressed the forum’s opening session on the benefits of regional cooperation. He said closer collaboration among states and aviation authorities was important for improving safety, building regulatory capacity and supporting sustainable development in the aviation sector.

According to Barrie, Sierra Leone’s aviation development must be supported by effective regulatory systems and strong safety oversight as the country works to strengthen infrastructure and connectivity. He also said regional cooperation had contributed to the reform and development of the SLCAA.

Barrie said cooperation through regional safety oversight organizations had enabled Sierra Leone to access technical expertise, specialized training and institutional support. He called for the sharing of technical knowledge and the pursuit of common safety objectives among states.

He warned that inadequate regulatory capacity could affect states’ ability to maintain effective aviation safety standards. Barrie also stressed that safety depends on sustained investment, ongoing professional development, technical expertise and consistent regulatory oversight.

Capacity and financing examined

Forum discussions covered the delegation of safety and investigative responsibilities, aviation workforce development, sustainable financing, industry partnerships and the development of common and harmonized regulatory frameworks and tools.

Participants also examined the difficulty of attracting and retaining qualified aviation professionals, the high cost of training, limited institutional capacity and the need for sustainable funding models. Partnerships between regulators and industry were included among the issues considered.

Barrie noted that aviation operations cross national borders, making cooperation, information sharing and consistency among regulators important. An aircraft departing Sierra Leone may land in Ghana or another country, he said, illustrating the need for coordinated oversight.

First forum in the Americas

The Guyana meeting was the first time the global aviation safety forum had been held in the Americas. Its theme was “Optimizing Resources through Coordination and Cooperation.”

Egbert Field, Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority, highlighted aviation’s contribution to Guyana’s economy, including mining, tourism and agriculture. He said Guyana remained committed to maintaining aviation safety as its aviation sector expands.

Michele Merkle, Director of ICAO’s Air Navigation Bureau, also underscored the importance of regional cooperation. She said collaboration helps create communities of expertise through which knowledge, experience and solutions can move across the global aviation network.

The participation of the SLCAA was presented as reflecting the authority’s commitment to international and regional cooperation, effective regulatory oversight and continuous improvement in aviation safety.