Sierra Leone Gets 500 Metric Tons of Rice Donation from ECOWAS to Support National Food Response.
By Raymond Enoch
In a powerful show of solidarity and regional cooperation, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has donated 500 metric tons of white rice to the Republic of Sierra Leone to support the country’s National Response Plan and ongoing food security efforts under the government’s flagship “Feed Salone” initiative.
The official handover ceremony took place in Bo City on July 14, 2025, where ECOWAS Resident Representative to Sierra Leone, Ambassador John Azumah, presented the consignment on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission President, Dr. Alieu Omar Touray, and the ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs. Massandjé Touré-Litsé. The rice was received on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone by Dr. Therisa Tenneh Dick, Deputy Minister 1 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
The 500 metric tons of white rice, drawn from the ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve, is part of a broader strategy aimed at combating food insecurity and mitigating the effects of multiple crises, including climate shocks, economic downturns, and regional instability, which continue to threaten vulnerable communities across West Africa.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Azumah reaffirmed ECOWAS’s commitment to strengthening regional resilience through sustainable agricultural practices and integrated food storage systems. “This intervention reflects ECOWAS’s unyielding support for our member states during times of critical need. By strengthening local, national, and regional food security reserves, we aim to build long-term resilience and food sovereignty across the region,” he stated.
Ambassador Azumah also used the opportunity to commend Sierra Leone’s President, His Excellency Brigadier General (Rtd) Dr. Julius Maada Bio, for assuming the role of Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS. He praised the President’s leadership and vision, especially as Sierra Leone navigates complex challenges in food security and economic recovery.
Dr. Tenneh Dick, in her acceptance remarks, expressed profound gratitude on behalf of the government and people of Sierra Leone. She emphasized that the rice donation would go a long way in addressing the urgent food needs of at-risk populations, particularly in rural and underserved communities. “The support from ECOWAS could not have come at a better time. It reinforces our resolve to ensure no Sierra Leonean goes hungry, and it is a crucial boost to our ‘Feed Salone’ agenda,” she said.
The donation is part of a larger ECOWAS initiative to distribute food to member states facing acute food shortages. The Regional Food Security Reserve, established under the ECOWAS Regional Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP), serves as a strategic instrument to enhance regional preparedness and response to food crises.
As West Africa continues to confront mounting challenges posed by climate variability, economic hardship, and conflict-induced displacement, ECOWAS’s intervention in Sierra Leone exemplifies the importance of regional unity and proactive humanitarian support.
This landmark gesture in Bo City stands as a testament to the power of cooperation, signaling a new chapter in Sierra Leone’s fight against hunger and malnutrition, and reinforcing the broader West African commitment to shared prosperity and food sovereignty.
