Sierra Leone Extends Condolences, Solidarity to Ghana Over Flood Devastation
President of Sierra Leone and Chair of the ECOWAS Authority, Dr Julius Maada Bio, has conveyed condolences and solidarity from the government and people of Sierra Leone to Ghana following the recent floods that claimed lives and caused widespread destruction.
President Bio made the remarks during a one-day state visit to Ghana, thanking President John Dramani Mahama for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to him and his delegation.
He said his thoughts and prayers, together with those of the Sierra Leonean people, were with the bereaved families, the injured, and all those whose homes, businesses and livelihoods had been affected by the disaster.
President Bio commended President Mahama’s leadership during the difficult period and paid tribute to emergency services, security personnel, healthcare workers, volunteers, faith-based organisations and ordinary citizens whose dedication and compassion had brought comfort to those in need.
“Sierra Leone has always stood with Ghana in moments of challenge, just as Ghana has always stood with Sierra Leone,” he said, describing the solidarity between the two nations as one of the defining strengths of their relationship.
He said the bond between the two countries extended well beyond diplomacy, rooted instead in genuine friendship, shared values and the conviction that when one nation grieves, all grieve together.
President Bio said the floods also served as a reminder of the shared vulnerability of African nations, noting that Ghana, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire and several other West African countries were witnessing increasingly frequent floods and landslides driven by climate change, compounded by rapid urbanisation, unsafe construction and weak enforcement of planning and environmental regulations.
“Today, I have come not only as a fellow president but as a brother from Sierra Leone, and as Chair of the ECOWAS Authority, to say to the people of Ghana: you are not alone. Your sorrow is ours, and together we will overcome these challenges,” he said.
President Bio prayed for comfort for the bereaved and all those affected by the floods, and invoked blessings on the people of Ghana, Sierra Leone and the ECOWAS community.
President Mahama, welcoming his counterpart on behalf of the Government and people of Ghana, said the visit served two purposes, the first being President Bio’s mission to commiserate with Ghana over the loss of lives and the displacement of persons caused by the heavy downpour experienced earlier in the week.
He said Accra and parts of the coastal regions were severely inundated by a heavy rainstorm that also affected Gabon, Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire, with preliminary assessments showing that about 48,000 people had been rendered homeless. He said 12 fatalities had been confirmed, while seven people remained unaccounted for.
President Mahama said Government had directed the Ghana Armed Forces and the Joint Task Force to mobilise immediately to restore normalcy, with the military already deployed to critical locations to clear waterways, remove debris and clear refuse washed across the city by the floods. He said normalcy was expected to be restored within the next week or two.
He announced that the Minister for Finance had released funds from the Contingency Fund to support flood mitigation and relief efforts, and that NADMO and other partner agencies would soon begin distributing relief items, including blankets, mattresses, tents and towels, to affected families.
President Mahama said the second purpose of President Bio’s visit was to hold consultations ahead of the ECOWAS Summit in Freetown, during which the two leaders discussed the security situation within the sub-region and other matters expected to come before the Summit. He said the bilateral discussions had been concluded successfully.
“It is in keeping with the African tradition that when a neighbour or a member of the family experiences tragedy, others stand with them in solidarity and offer their sympathy,” President Mahama said, describing President Bio as a brother, a fellow African and a member of Ghana’s wider family.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
