By Tejan Macavoray
The Ghanaian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Senalor K. Yawlui, has embarked on a familiarisation and cooperation tour across the north-east and eastern provinces of Sierra Leone.
High Commissioner Yawlui’s tour was to strengthen bilateral ties, assess the welfare of Ghanaian nationals, and explore opportunities for institutional collaboration between Ghana and Sierra Leone.
The tour commenced in Makeni with a courtesy call on the Regional Police Commissioner, Assistant Inspector General Victor Manfred Williams at Mena Hills. The delegation was warmly received by the Regional Police chief and his team, senior law enforcement officers, notably, representatives from Interpol, the Regional Crime Officer, and the Transnational Organized Crime Unit.
During the meeting, High Commissioner Yawlui underscored the long-standing historical and cultural relations between Ghana and Sierra Leone, dating back to the pre-colonial era that was strengthened through educational ties and intermarriages among the citizens of the two countries. He highlighted the objectives of the Ghanaian Mission in Freetown, including the promotion of bilateral cooperation in sectors such as Trade and Investment, Agriculture and Food Security, Education, Health, Defence and Security as well as consular support to Ghanaian nationals in the country.
“Our visit today is part of a broader initiative to strengthen bilateral cooperation, engage with public institutions, and assess the wellbeing of Ghanaian nationals in the region,” he stated. “We also aim to ensure that our citizens are law-abiding and contributing positively to the host community and the development of Ghana.”
Commissioner Victor Manfred Williams commended the Ghanaian community in Makeni for their exemplary conduct. “Since I assumed duty here seven months ago, I’ve had consistent interactions with members of the Ghanaian community. They are involved in various professions, including Mining and Healthcare, and they have maintained a clean record. I can confidently say that they are law-abiding and respectful of our laws,” he said.
Commissioner Williams further affirmed the police force’s readiness to collaborate with the Ghanaian High Commission, particularly in the areas of intelligence sharing, crime prevention, and consular support. He lauded the historical solidarity among coastal nations like Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, and The Gambia, and emphasized his commitment to maintaining that brotherhood.
Both sides at the meeting agreed on the need for institutional collaboration between the two countries on capacity building of the police force and information sharing in combating transnational organized crime, such as terrorism, human and drug trafficking, money laundering, proliferation of Small and Light Weapons in accordance with ECOWAS Protocols.
The delegation then proceeded to the office of the Resident Minister of the North-East Region, Ibrahim Jalloh, who welcomed them and reaffirmed the importance of the long-standing Ghana and Sierra Leone relationship.
“I am pleased to host you here in our region,” Minister Jalloh said. “The Ghanaian community has always been peaceful and law-abiding, and we are committed to supporting them within the framework of our national laws and ECOWAS protocols.”
Jalloh reminisced about Ghanaian President John Mahama’s visit during the 2018 elections and encouraged the Ghanaian community to continue to be law abiding.
In response, Mr Yawlui expressed gratitude for the warm reception and reiterated Ghana’s commitment to deepening cooperation across multiple sectors.
Continuing the tour, the delegation traveled to Kono District in the Eastern Region of Sierra Leone, where they met with Local Unit Commander CSP Augustine Kamara of the Nimikoro Police Division. In a warm and engaging session, CSP Kamara assured the delegation of his office’s support and praised the Ghanaian community for their good conduct and cooperation.
“During my 16 months here, we’ve had no incidents or criminal reports involving Ghanaians. They are respectful and integrated well within the community,” said CSP Kamara.
A Ghanaian resident of Kono, Mr. Alfred Kwame, echoed the CSP’s sentiments and commended the local police leadership for their approachability and support.
The final engagement by the delegation in Kono was with Mayor Tamba Sam of the Koidu New Sembehun City Council. The Mayor, in welcoming the High Commissioner and his delegation, expressed interest in future collaborations with municipal authorities in Ghana.
“This city, a product of the unification of Gbense and Tankoro chiefdoms, is cosmopolitan and vibrant. We cherish diversity and have long-standing relations with the Ghanaian community dating back to the UNAMSIL era,” Mayor Sam said.
He described his commitment to inclusive development and the challenges faced in coordinating with chiefdom councils under the Local Government Act. The Mayor also shared his personal connection with the Ghanaian community, particularly through his involvement in the Pentecost Church.
In response, the High Commissioner emphasized the role of local governance in strengthening bilateral ties and assured the Mayor of Ghana’s readiness to partner in community and institutional development. He called for continued engagement and dialogue between the Ghanaian community and local authorities, especially on matters relating to economic contributions and peaceful coexistence.
The other leg of the High Commissioner’s tour involved visits to Kabala and Magburaka. The visit to Kabala included courtesy calls on relevant stakeholders such as the District Police Commander, Tankoro Division and the city Mayor. Similarly, while in Magburaka, the High Commissioner and his delegation called on the Local Unit Police Commander and interacted with members of the Ghanaian community on a positive discussion
Throughout the tour, High Commissioner Yawlui reiterated Ghana’s commitment to fostering closer cooperation with Sierra Leone through the upcoming Ghana-Sierra Leone Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC). The PJCC legal framework, set to be inaugurated soon in Accra, will expand collaboration across sectors, notably trade and investment, agriculture and food security, education, health, tourism, defence and security, among others.
