ECOWAS must adopt common disaster-preparedness laws – Sierra Leone Minority Leader

Sierra Leone's Minority Leader has urged the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to implement uniform laws and institutions for disaster preparedness. He argued that many countries in the region lack sufficient capacity to respond to climate-related emergencies, leaving communities vulnerable to floods, mudslides, and other disasters.

Speaking to JoyNews, the legislator emphasized the need for a regional disaster-preparedness framework that member states can adopt and enforce, shifting the focus from resource mobilization after disasters to proactive systems that anticipate and respond to potential threats. He cited Sierra Leone's recent mudslide disaster, which claimed over a thousand lives, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated emergency-response mechanisms in West Africa.

The Minority Leader stressed the importance of early-warning systems, resilient infrastructure, and institutions capable of responding swiftly to emergencies. He also called for investment in climate resilience, environmental policies, and programs to reduce vulnerability and adapt to climate change. The ECOWAS Parliament's Agriculture, Environment, and Natural Resources Committee is tasked with addressing climate resilience, including harmonizing environmental policies and programs among member states.

The Sierra Leonean legislator emphasized the need for the ECOWAS Commission to regularly report to the regional Parliament on disaster-preparedness initiatives and assess their effectiveness, enabling policymakers to identify gaps and enhance coordination between member states. The proposal arises as West Africa grapples with the increasing impact of extreme weather events, such as flooding and landslides.

The ECOWAS Parliament has previously urged governments to incorporate climate considerations into national planning and budgets while advocating for regional and national measures to bolster resilience against climate-related risks. For the legislator, the ultimate goal is to create a system where countries are prepared to act before disasters occur, rather than reacting after communities have suffered significant losses.

He believes that a common ECOWAS framework, supported by suitable institutions, legislation, early-warning systems, and consistent financing, could significantly enhance the region's capacity to safeguard lives and property during climate-related emergencies.