On January 31, 2024, President Julius Maada Bio officially inaugurated the final High-Level Seminar of the 5th Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament, held in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The seminar's central theme was “Illegal Mining and Its Consequences in the ECOWAS Sub-Region,” highlighting the critical need to address the adverse impacts of illegal mining on peace, stability, security, development, governance, the rule of law, the environment, and the economy in the sub-region.

In his insightful speech, President Bio underscored the timeliness of this seminar, emphasizing the urgency to tackle the negative repercussions of illegal mining effectively. He urged the Honourable Members of the ECOWAS Parliament to collaboratively work towards the development of robust legal and regulatory frameworks to combat this scourge.

Expressing his appreciation, President Bio commended the ECOWAS Parliament for its unwavering commitment to strengthening the democratic process and promoting good governance in the sub-region, specifically acknowledging the parliament's role in Sierra Leone. The President extended gratitude to the 5th Legislature, led by the Speaker, the Right Honourable Sidie Mohamed Tunis, for their unprecedented achievements. President Bio recognized Speaker Tunis as a commendable ambassador, receiving the 5th Legislature’s Outstanding Commitment Award for inspirational leadership in the ECOWAS Community.

Accepting the award with pride, President Bio expressed a renewed vision to support the Community’s integration and development objectives outlined in the ECOWAS Vision 2050. He encouraged Parliamentarians to continue lending their voices to the advancement of the sub-region, emphasizing the significance of their role even as the 5th Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament approached its conclusion in less than two months.

The event serves as a positive milestone in Sierra Leone's collaborative development efforts and further solidifies the nation's role in fostering bilateral relationships with other African countries. President Bio's active involvement in addressing critical regional issues demonstrates