Francis Lahai

A development specialist, engineer, religious leader, and politician helping to shape the face of Sierra Leone in little jumps to a prosperous status.

[Francis Lahai @FHLahai]

@pozitifevibe 1912

[Francis Lahai @FHLahai]

@Presidency_SL @julius_maadabio @FEGnassingbe Ndor Mahei, Bio. We appreciate your tireless efforts for West Africa's transformation to a middle income region.

[Francis Lahai @FHLahai]

@BTUPDATES10 Albania

[Francis Lahai @FHLahai]

@Simi_2210_ 100

[Francis Lahai @FHLahai]

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[Francis Lahai @FHLahai]

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[Francis Lahai @FHLahai]

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[Francis Lahai @FHLahai]

@julius_maadabio Looks so beautiful and professionally done. This changes the dynamics of energy supply. Years of planning yielded good fruits. I implore our fellow Sierra Leoneans to have better productive use of energy (PUE)and improve productivity, not just watch movies and the World Cup 🏆

[Francis Lahai @FHLahai]

@julius_maadabio Bravo to the people of Sierra Leone. As we are committed, so is the govt delivering the long hopes for the needs. This is the generation we were waiting for.

[Francis Lahai @FHLahai]

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[Francis Lahai @FHLahai]

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[Francis Lahai @FHLahai]

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[Francis Lahai @FHLahai]

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[Francis Lahai @FHLahai]

@Ladyfatimabio Thank you Mrs Fatima Bio for helping to lead on this tricky cancerous issue. Our mothers have suffered for too long and ignorance has been at the bottom. Let's educate Africa. Thanks

[Francis Lahai @FHLahai]

@Ladyfatimabio God bless our future leaders.

[Francis Lahai @FHLahai]

@Ladyfatimabio Lovely.

[Francis Lahai @FHLahai]

@Ladyfatimabio Thank you for championing the clean cooking initiative. The African woman needs financial support through zero interest loans to acquire the gas bottles and stoves. We need awareness raising, as we did in the refugee camps of Burundi and also emphasize continually the benefits.

[First Lady Fatima Maada Bio @Ladyfatimabio]

Today, I am deeply honored to accept the role of Regional Clean Cooking Champion for West Africa. This responsibility is not merely a title—it is a call to action. A call to stand for the millions of women and children whose lives are endangered daily by the lack of access to clean cooking solutions.

This honour was bestowed on me this morning during the officially launching of the 2026 ECOWAS Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) Programme, alongside the High-Level Policy Dialogue on Clean Cooking, Gender Equality, and Child Protection, here in Sierra Leone. This important dialogue is a direct response to the growing crisis of limited access to clean cooking across our continent.

The numbers are staggering. Globally, more than 3.7 million people die each year due to exposure to smoke and toxic fumes—most of them women and children. This is not just a statistic; it is a humanitarian crisis that demands urgent and collective action.

In Sierra Leone, only 1.5% of the population has access to clean cooking. This means that over 98% of our people still rely on biomass, including firewood. For me, this is not just an environmental concern—it is a national emergency and a public health crisis. For millions of African women, this is not a choice; it is their daily reality.

I extend my deepest gratitude to my husband, His Excellency the President of Sierra Leone and Chairman of ECOWAS, for his unwavering leadership and support. I also thank the Clean Cooking Alliance, PIECREF, and the ECOWAS delegation for their commitment to this critical cause.

My sincere appreciation goes to Her Excellency Mrs. Racheal Ruto, First Lady of Kenya, and Madam Samira Bawumia, former Second Lady of Ghana and a champion for clean cooking, as well as to the Government of Sierra Leone for their leadership and dedication. Thank you all for honoring my invitation and standing with us at this official launch.

As Regional Clean Cooking Champion for West Africa, I call on all of us—governments, partners, and communities—to act with urgency and unity. Let us ensure that no woman loses her life simply because she lacks access to clean cooking. Let us seize this moment to transform how we cook in our homes and kitchens across Africa.

May God bless Sierra Leone.
May God bless Africa.

FMB.