Sierra Leone’s Chief Immigration Officer, Dr Moses Tiffa Baio, has been duly appointed Chairperson of the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of Immigration (HoI) Forum.
Dr. Moses Tiffa Baio was appointed to head ECOWAS Immigration Forum at the recent conference marking the Forum’s 9th annual meeting in the Republic of Benin from Tuesday 14th to Thursday 16th October 2025, where he commits to working towards ensuring the free movement of people, as well as facilitating the implementation of the sub-regional National Biometric Identification Card.
The Cotonou Forum serves as a platform where immigration officials from member states discuss issues relating to mobility and migration and, hence, propose practical solutions towards addressing them. The Heads of Immigration (HoI) Forum was established with the focus of promoting regional integration and supporting the consistent implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, in relation to the promotion of socio-economic development in the region.
In his opening remarks to his colleagues and guests at the conference, the Chairperson of the Heads of Immigration Forum in ECOWAS, Dr Moses Tiffa Baio, who also doubles as Sierra Leone’s Chief Immigration Officer, conveyed warm greetings from His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio, who also doubles as the Chairperson of the Authority of the ECOWAS Heads of States, and the people of Sierra Leone to the forum.
The Chairperson revealed how President Bio was proud and happy that the ECOWAS Commission was able to organise the meeting, while sending his gratitude to his brother, the President of the Republic of Benin, for hosting the meeting of the sub-regional Heads of Immigration.
“The sub-region is experiencing high intra-regional mobility, which is influenced by factors such as trade, socio-cultural dynamics, family connections, labour migration, and environmental conditions,” the chairperson highlighted. He noted that, among the highlights of the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement for regional integration and economic cooperation, what the region is experiencing remains a challenge.
Dr. Baio assures the conference that the Chairperson of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State is optimistic and forward-looking about receiving the report on the meeting’s outcome.
“As we convene for the 9th session of the Heads of Immigration Meeting under the theme ‘Strengthening Border Management, Labor Migration, and Identity Systems for Enhanced Regional
Integration in ECOWAS,” he noted, pointing out that, “I would like to inform you all that, in March 2022, the Sierra Leone Parliament ratified the ECOWAS Identity Card, alongside other West African states.” He also revealed that in 2023, President Bio officially launched the biometric and securitized identity card, which was effectively implemented in 2024.
While assuring the country’s commitment to the region, the Chairperson stated that “the Sierra Leone Immigration Department accepts the ECOWAS Identity Card for West African citizens and the enforcement of its implementation at all manned borders within the country.”
He went on to reveal that since January 2025, “Gbalamuya and Jendema, as major crossing points, have recorded 2,486 ECOWAS citizens using the card to cross from Sierra Leone to Liberia and Sierra Leone to Guinea, respectively.” He, however, used the platform to encourage other member states to follow in the country’s footsteps in advancing the sub-regional identity card.
The Chairperson of the ECOWAS Heads of Immigration (HoI) Forum reminded colleagues that the sub-regional block was founded on the vision of unity, cooperation, and shared prosperity, because the founding members strongly believed that regional integration was not merely a political aspiration, but rather an economic and social necessity. He said, despite that, “our borders remain barriers to each other instead of bridges.”
Dr Baio urges his colleagues to reimagine the borders not as a line that divides member states but as a gateway for safe mobility, trade, and regional solidarity, and called for a commitment to work together as government officials, civil society, and regional institutions to transform mobility from a challenge into a catalyst for growth.
He expressed that, “if West Africans can move freely, safely and lawfully, our economy grows, our culture is enriched, hence our unity deepens the more,” he revealed. He challenged the conference delegates to renew their determination by strengthening our borders, managing migration humanely, and building a trusted identity system for an integrated economy, which has the potential of leading to an integrated destiny for all.
It could be recalled that the Heads of Immigration (HoI) Forum was established to promote regional integration and support consistent implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, which relates to socio-economic development in the region.
The purpose of its annual meeting is to review and approve the reports from the Border Management and Labour Migration thematic expert sessions, assess progress on the implementation of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC), identify existing challenges, and determine areas requiring additional technical support.