President Adama Barrow received a Sierra Leone Ministerial delegation at the State House in Banjul. The Sierra Leone Minister of Internal Affairs, David Panda Noah, who is the Head of the delegation, said their visit was on strengthening relations between the two countries and follow up on discussions held between President Barrow
and H.E. Dr Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

Honourable Panda Noah added that the two countries signed a joint communique to establish a Joint Cooperation Commission to handle various cooperation matters between the two countries. Mr Noah highlighted some of the cooperation areas, including Trade, Defence, and the elimination of the payment of residence permits by nationals of the two countries.

The Gambia High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Honourable Alieu K. Jammeh, said the day is historic since it’s the first time the two countries have signed such an agreement. High Commissioner Jammeh stated that it was pleasing to quickly register such achievement since he assumed duties as High Commissioner to Sierra Leone. The Gambia and Sierra Leone have had long-standing bilateral ties; hence the signing of this communique will shine further light on the decades-long relations.

The Sierra Leone delegation included Dr Edward Hinga Sandy, Minister of Trade and Industry, Honourable Madam Mamadi Ngobeh-Kamara, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs and Gambians Abroad, Dr Mamadou Tangara, accompanied the delegation. Their Gambians counterparts, Minister of Trade, Regional Integration and Employment, Seedy Keita, Minister of Interior, Yankuba Sonko, and other officials were also present.