It remains to be seen if the reassurance given to the Ghanaian President John Mahama by the unelected Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio to hand over power peacefully would take place. (Photo: President Mahama in Lungi yesterday with Maada Bio).

Reports say the much-anticipated deadline date slated by the international community, through the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, for the final implementation of the transition was discussed.

Following the planned visit of President John Mahama to Sierra Leone yesterday on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission, Sierra Leoneans have expressed high optimism about seeing the transfer of power occur.

The meeting between the Ghanaian President and the illegal President Maada Bio at the Presidential Lounge Lungi Airport ended with very scanty information leaked to the public.

It was shrouded in secrecy, as no other person was allowed at the Lungi Airport meeting lounge where other SLPP ministers were left outside without having a clue of what transpired between Mahama and Bio. (Photo: Mahama and Bio).

The little information gathered from the secret meeting has revealed a positive outcome for the Ghanaian leader, who was reportedly able to convince his long-time friend Maada Bio to respect the latest transition deadline.

The deceitful SLPP regime and media have resorted to spreading misinformation and disinformation regarding the visit of President Mahama. They say it was about strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.

The majority of Sierra Leoneans who voted out Bio in the June 24, 2023 elections do not buy the SLPP lies. The electorates believe the visit was about the transfer of power to the legitimate winner, Dr Samura Kamara.

Now, it is left with Bio to choose between a peaceful transfer of power or a forceful transition. But for ECOWAS, they are hopeful that Maada Bio would use his wisdom to choose peace as only peaceful means would help him.

The illegal President Maada Bio truly reassured President Mahama that he would abide by the Abuja Agreement about transferring power peacefully and on time, though there are still doubts about Bio’s true intentions.