By Thaimu T Kamara

Sierra Leone has stepped up preparations to host the West Africa Integration and Investment Summit (WAIIS) 2026, following the launch of a local media campaign by the summit’s Special Envoy, Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella.

The summit, scheduled for November 17–18, 2026, is expected to bring together investors, business leaders, financial institutions and between five and seven Heads of State to explore investment opportunities, strengthen regional trade and promote economic integration across West Africa.

Speaking at the campaign launch in Aberdeen, Freetown, Dr. Yumkella called on the media to help raise public awareness about the summit’s objectives and the investment opportunities it is expected to generate for Sierra Leone and the wider Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region.

Dr. Yumkella, who also chairs the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy and Food Security (PI-CREF), said WAIIS was designed to move beyond promises and focus on practical investment opportunities.

“WAIIS is not a pledging conference. It is an investment conference where private and public sector institutions have designed projects, and bankers and investment institutions are ready to invest in them,” he said.

He explained that regional cooperation in trade, infrastructure development and investment could create opportunities for economic growth across West Africa. He also highlighted President Julius Maada Bio’s emphasis on regional economic integration during his tenure as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

Dr. Yumkella cited the Gento Group’s proposed port project at Kent and Banana Island as an example of investment activity associated with WAIIS. He said the project was expected to move towards completion once outstanding processes had been concluded.

The Special Envoy also outlined preparations for the summit, including its four thematic pillars, which are intended to direct attention towards strategic sectors capable of supporting economic growth and regional integration.

He further disclosed that WAIIS had established a Private Sector Advisory Board comprising prominent African business leaders, including Tony Elumelu, chief executive of Heirs Holdings, and Aliko Dangote, head of the Dangote Group. The business leaders are expected to participate in the summit alongside other influential figures from across the continent.

Meanwhile, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Kenyeh Barlay said several Sierra Leonean projects had already been included in the summit’s Deal Rooms, where project proponents would present investment proposals to potential financiers and business partners.

She said the initiative aligned with the country’s development priorities and efforts to mobilise investment for national growth.

Minister of Energy Cyril Grant highlighted the potential contribution of energy-related projects associated with WAIIS to Sierra Leone’s electricity generation capacity. He pointed to the ongoing Nant Energy Project in Kissy as one of the initiatives relevant to the country’s energy development ambitions.

Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation Salima Bah described the summit as timely, noting that projects featured in the Deal Rooms, including those from Sierra Leone, had attracted serious interest from prospective investors.

The President of the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce, Robin Coker, said WAIIS could help accelerate economic growth in Sierra Leone and other West African countries.

He stressed that private sector participation would be essential to supporting investment and ensuring that projects deliver sustainable economic benefits. He also commended the summit’s leadership for ensuring that Sierra Leonean businesses and projects were represented in the Deal Rooms.

“We believe that WAIIS will give a boost and speed to not only Sierra Leone’s economy, but the wider West African countries,” Coker said.

Joseph Ngana, Chief Operating Officer of WAIIS, who oversees projects featured in the Deal Rooms, said the summit had assembled a pipeline of investment opportunities intended to connect project developers with potential financiers and investors.

He expressed confidence in the arrangements for the event, assuring stakeholders that the organisers were working towards a smooth and successful summit.

“We are going to have such an impressive summit with zero glitches that everybody will want to come back to Sierra Leone for more investment talks,” Ngana said.

The launch of the local media campaign marks a further step in preparations for WAIIS 2026. Organisers expect the media to play a central role in informing the public, promoting investment opportunities and encouraging participation from businesses and other stakeholders.

With the summit approaching, attention is expected to focus on the projects presented to investors and the extent to which the gathering can translate regional cooperation into tangible investment opportunities for Sierra Leone and the wider West African region.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 28th October 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)