Freetown, April 21 2026 – Sierra Leone’s Director General of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), John Vandy Rogers, is taking center stage at the 17th Meeting of the Regional Committee of Heads of Disaster Management in West Africa (GECEAO), which began on April 21 and will conclude on April 23, 2026, following his unanimous selection to chair and moderate proceedings throughout the three-day consultation in Abidjan.
The consultation is being held against the backdrop of concerning seasonal forecasts predicting above average rainfall across several parts of the region, raising fears of widespread flooding, food insecurity, disease outbreaks, and damage to critical national infrastructure.
During the opening session, DG Rogers pointed out the urgency of translating early warnings into concrete action.
“Our role here is not ceremonial, it is about guiding critical conversations that will shape how we protect our people in the months ahead,” he said. “Forecasts must lead to action. If warnings do not translate into preparedness on the ground, then we are failing our communities.”
Throughout the sessions, he would be steering discussions among heads of national disaster management agencies, meteorological institutions, and key international partners, ensuring inclusive participation while keeping deliberations focused on practical and results driven outcomes.
He also emphasized the need for stronger regional collaboration in tackling shared risks. “The challenges we face are interconnected such as floods, health crises, food insecurity, and no single country can address them alone. What we agree here must strengthen coordination and deliver faster, more effective responses across the region.”
The meeting is reviewing progress made since the previous GECEAO consultation, assessing seasonal forecasts, and exploring strategies to bridge the persistent gap between early warning systems and early response, an issue that continues to undermine disaster preparedness efforts in West Africa.
Participants from across ECOWAS Member States, alongside humanitarian and development partners, are working toward concrete recommendations aimed at strengthening coordination frameworks, enhancing data sharing, and improving resilience.
As deliberations continue in Abidjan, expectations remain high that the meeting will produce actionable outcomes capable of improving preparedness and safeguarding vulnerable communities ahead of the 2026 rainy season.
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Directorate of Communications
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Email: mohamedIbah@ndma.gov.sl
