By Emma Black
Sierra Leone has taken a bold leap in the fight against human trafficking, adopting the ECOWAS TIP+ Strategy—a dynamic regional plan to prevent trafficking, protect survivors, and prosecute perpetrators. Unveiled on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, this landmark move unites the Ministry of Social Welfare, international allies, and government leaders in a concerted effort to dismantle a transnational scourge.
Ibrahim Lewis kicked off the event with a nod to teamwork, spotlighting Sierra Leones ties with ECOWAS, the European Union (EU), and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), this is unity with purpose he said, framing the TIP+ strategy as a cornerstone of regional resolve.
Amak Obiokeye Nwalon, ICMPD’s Accra office head, praised Sierra Leone’s trailblazing role. Trafficking is a global beast—we need a global fight, she urged. EU envoy Els Mortier echoed this, detailing the Union’s five-pillar backbone Policy, Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Partnership rooted in years of support.
Attorney General Alpha Sesay brought hard numbers to the table 46 trafficking cases prosecuted from 2024 to 2025. Yet, he owned the gaps—enforcement snags and spotty victim identification. Our commitment’s unshakable, he vowed, signalling tougher days ahead for traffickers.
Social Welfare Minister Melrose Karminty stole the show with a fiery keynote. Facing judges, activists, and global partners, she thundered, Sierra Leone rejects trafficking outright. Her call? A regional blitz—beefed-up laws, sharper awareness, and real survivor lifelines. Invest in the vulnerable, weaponize tech against these networks, she pressed, saluting ECOWAS, the EU, and ICMPD for their strategic heft.
Karminty didn’t stop at rhetoric. Launching the session with a formal charge, she demanded action over talk. Let’s forge outcomes that stick—cooperation that bites, she urged stakeholders, setting the stage for debates aimed at concrete gains, this isn’t just a meeting—it’s a milestone. Sierra Leone, a pilot for TIP+, is planting a flag for West Africa. With prosecutions rising and partners locking arms, the strategy blends grit with vision—a shield for the exploited, a sword for the exploiters. As Karminty’s words rang out, the mission crystallized: end trafficking, not with promises, but with power—regional, relentless, and rooted in Sierra Leones soil