State House, Banjul, 19th July 2026: His Excellency President Adama Barrow arrived at Freetown International Airport in Sierra Leone yesterday ahead of the ECOWAS Mid-Year Summit scheduled for today, Sunday, 19th July 2026. Upon arrival, the President was accorded a guard of honour and warmly welcomed by His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, and The Gambia’s High Commissioner to the Republic of Sierra Leone, Her Excellency Claudiana A. Cole. As part of his visit, President Barrow honoured an invitation to attend the commissioning of the newly built Julius Maada Bio International Convention Centre in Lungi. Delivering his message of solidarity at the ceremony, President Barrow congratulated President Julius Maada Bio and the people of Sierra Leone. He described the Centre as a symbol of vision, ambition, and confidence in the nation’s future. He noted that the facility will serve as a hub for diplomacy, commerce, and knowledge-sharing, hosting dialogues, negotiations, and celebrations that advance regional progress and prosperity.

President Barrow further reaffirmed the strong and historic ties between The Gambia and Sierra Leone, rooted in shared history, resilience, and a joint commitment to democracy and peace. Within the ECOWAS framework, he emphasised the spirit of solidarity and mutual support, adding that the new Centre will stand as a beacon of unity and development, strengthening the fraternal bonds between our two nations.