Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, represented by Mr. Alpha K. Bangura, Director of Public Investment Management, has chaired a two-day consultative meeting on the implementation progress of the ECOWAS Regional Infrastructure Master Plan (RIMP). The high-level engagement, held from 12–13 August 2025 in Accra, Ghana, was organised by the ECOWAS Project Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU).
Mr. Bangura assumed the chairmanship as part of the Ministry’s extended mandate under Sierra Leone’s leadership in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). His appointment was unanimous, reflecting regional confidence in Sierra Leone’s commitment to advancing regional infrastructure priorities.
The RIMP, a 25-year strategic framework (2020–2045), provides a comprehensive roadmap for boosting infrastructure development and regional interconnectivity in line with ECOWAS Vision 2050. It encompasses 201 priority projects across the transport, energy, ICT, and water resource sectors including 146 investment projects and 55 soft projects with an estimated investment cost of USD 131.2 billion over its implementation period.
During the Accra meeting, delegates from all ECOWAS Member States reviewed progress, discussed challenges, and agreed on a set of actionable recommendations with clear timelines to accelerate delivery.
The PPDU, established in October 2014 in Lomé, Togo, serves as a specialised ECOWAS agency responsible for preparing and developing regional infrastructure projects. Its mandate includes identifying, selecting, and prioritising regional integration projects; mobilising financing; strengthening the capacities of national and intergovernmental structures; and promoting public-private partnerships.
Governed by a nine-member Steering Committee representing the ECOWAS Commission, Member States, the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), development partners, and the private sector, the PPDU plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between project design and execution.
Speaking at the close of the meeting, Mr. Bangura reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s readiness to continue driving the ECOWAS regional infrastructure agenda. “Our shared vision for a connected and economically integrated West Africa depends on the timely delivery of strategic infrastructure. This requires not only sound planning but also sustained collaboration among all Member States and partners,” he said.
The recommendations from the Accra meeting are expected to feed into ongoing regional strategies aimed at mobilising resources and ensuring that the Master Plan delivers tangible benefits to millions across West Africa.
