IPNEWS: Former Peace Ambassador and President of Liberia, George Weah, has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to speedily investigate and bring to book the perpetrators of the recent violence in the Republic of Sierra Leone.
According to the Liberia News Agency (LINA), the Liberian leader reaffirmed that peace and stability is a backbone for development in every nation and any attempt to undermine the peace of the region should face the full weight of the law.
“They cannot destroy the lives of several police officers, civilians, or property and go free. No, they should face the law, and I always say this when we go for ECOWAS convention that the peace of our region is very important and no one should undermine it,” Pres. Weah stressed.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional political and economic union of fifteen countries founded in May 28, 1975, in Lagos, Nigeria, with the aims of Inter-state cooperation, harmonization of policies and integration of programs.
It comprises Francophone, Anglophone and Portuguese of the West Africa region spanning five million one hundred and fourteen thousand one hundred- and sixty-two-kilometers squares with an estimated population of four hundred and twenty-one million two hundred and fifty-three thousand forty-two persons.
The Liberian leader made the call during the first day of the continuation of his county tour in electoral District 16, Bushrod Island, and Montserrado County on Monday.
He also used the occasion to implore citizens, especially young people, to be the “champion of peace” in Liberia, adding that the maintenance of peace will bring more development and economic stability to the country.
It can be recalled that on Wednesday, August 10, 2022, Sierra Leone anti-government protesters staged a deadly protest in the City of Freetown, claiming the lives of several police officers and civilians.
They were protesting over what they called the rising cost of living, increment in the petroleum price and consistent inflation in the West African nation.
The protesters were also calling for the resignation of Pres. Julius Maada Bio, who was elected in a run-off election held 31 March 2018.
He gained 51.8 percent of the votes, according to official results from Sierra Leone’s National Elections Commission.
In 2017, the average inflation rate in Sierra Leone amounted to about 18.22 percent compared to the previous year.
Inflation rate in Sierra Leone increased to 28 percent in June from 24.90 percent in May of 2022.
