Sierra Leone lawmaker joins ECOWAS trade assessment
Hon. Abdul Kargbo participated in a mission to Liberia to evaluate a digital customs platform.
Sierra Leonean opposition lawmaker Hon. Abdul Kargbo joined an ECOWAS Parliament mission in Liberia to assess the SIGMAT digital platform for managing goods in transit. The four-day visit aimed to evaluate the platform's implementation and improve cross-border trade facilitation among member states. Kargbo, a member of the ECOWAS Parliament’s Committee on Infrastructure, stressed the importance of parliamentary oversight in regional trade programmes.
The delegation, led by Hon. Amdiatta Diaby of Senegal, visited the Liberia Revenue Authority and the Freeport of Monrovia. They identified challenges including inadequate road infrastructure, unreliable internet, and insufficient technical training hindering SIGMAT's effectiveness. Liberia Revenue Authority Assistant Commissioner William L. Buku noted electronic information-sharing can reduce human intervention and improve transparency.
The SIGMAT platform was officially launched in October 2025 connecting Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Liberia. Sierra Leone is among countries implementing SIGMAT, making the assessment relevant to its regional trade efforts. The mission's findings highlight the need for member states to strengthen infrastructure, technical capacity, and institutional cooperation for digital customs operations.
Why it mattersSierra Leonean opposition lawmaker Hon. Abdul Kargbo participated in a regional assessment of a digital trade platform that affects cross-border movement of goods.