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ECOWAS Commission President seeks greater collaboration with Ecobank, ECOWAS Parliament

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The President of the ECOWAS Commission Marcel Alain De Souza has appealed to the management of Ecobank to ensure that a desirable level of service is rendered to ECOWAS institutions and staff as the regional organisation repositions itself for the challenges ahead. Receives

Conferring with the Managing Director of Ecobank, Nigeria Mr. Charles Kie and his team at the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja on the 21st of April 2016, President De Souza said in recognition of the prime position of the bank among the financial institutions doing business with ECOWAS, it had become imperative that the bank takes a leading role in helping to achieve the on-going reforms meant to transit the community from an ECOWAS of states to an ECOWAS of the people.

The President intimated the Ecobank boss of a decision of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in 2014 mandating the Commission to spread its banking activities to others financial institutions with the view of strengthening its financial base and taking full benefits of the liberalism in the sector to enhance the implementation of the Community’s programmes and projects.PIC.2DSC_9117

He specifically requested the management of the bank to look into the issues of cumbersome funds transfer as well as the status of the commissions charged to ECOWAS staff and the possibility of having a comparable standard of operation (with regards to charges) with that of Ecobank in the republic of Benin.

The President who was flanked by the ECOWAS Commissioner for Finance Sesay Allieu, also discussed other matters for the information of the bank executives bordering on making ECOWAS the Commission live up to its financial responsibilities to its service providers among others.

Responding, Mr. Kie congratulated the ECOWAS Commission President on his appointment maintaining that as a prime financial partner, Ecobank would continue to work in close collaboration with the Commission in the discharge of its responsibilities to the people of West Africa.

Pledging the support of the bank for the leadership of the Commission and the other ECOWAS Institutions Mr Kie stressed that Ecobank wants “the strong relationship that has been on for years now to continue”

Giving words about positive things to come, the Ecobank boss noted that regardless of the fact that money market may be functioning in Nigeria in a way that is different from UEMOA countries such as the Republic of Benin, the operations format with ECOWAS is poised for review in line with the observations made by president De Souza.

President De Souza later received in audience, the first deputy speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament Hon, Lasun Sulaimon Yussuff to discuss how to strengthen the partnership between the ECOWAS Commission and the community parliament with a view of deriving mutual benefits from the enhanced powers of the Parliament and guarantee greater integration of the region.

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ECOWAS re-affirms Commitment to Implement Regional Action Plan on Illicit Drug Trafficking, Organized Crimes and Drug Abuse in West Africa

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Abuja, 25th, April 2016

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ECOWAS Member States at the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on the World Drug Problem on the 19th April, 2016 in New York re-affirmed their commitment to the implementation of the ECOWAS Political Declaration and Regional Action Plan to address illicit drug trafficking, organized crimes and drug abuse in West Africa, and highlighted their efforts in the areas of drug prevention and treatment while calling for strengthened international cooperation. They also aligned themselves to the statements made on behalf of the African Union States and the African States by South Africa and Sudan respectively.

The UN Member States   adopted an outcome document titled “Our Joint Commitment to Effectively Addressing and Countering the World Drug Problem” at the opening of the Thirtieth special session.

The ECOWAS Commission’s delegation was led by Ambassador TANOUKONE Léon, Permanent Representative of ECOWAS to the United Nations, including Dr. SintikiTarfaUgbe, Director, Gender, Youth and Drug Control and other staff of the Drug Unit  participated in the general debate to review progress in the implementation of the Political Declaration and the Plan of Action, including on assessment of the achievements and challenges in countering the world drug problem, within the framework of the three International Drug Control Conventions and other relevant United Nations instruments.

UN Member states at the session commended the Commission for Narcotic Drugs (CND) for the comprehensive and inclusive process undertaken to produce the UNGASS outcome document. In addition, the UN Member states welcomed the adoption of the outcome document and reiterated their commitment to implement the measures elaborated based on effective balance between supply and demand reduction, and to address the key causes and consequences of the world drug problem, including those in the health, social, human rights, economic, justice and security fields, in line with the principles of common and shared responsibility.

ECOWAS delegation also participated in interactive, multi-stakeholder round table discussions and used the opportunity to engage partners to explore areas of cooperation. The outcome document adopted will be used by ECOWAS Commission to strengthen actions with Member states and will be integrated into the Draft ECOWAS 2016 – 2020 Drug Action Plan to be validated and adopted in third quarter of 2016.

ECOWAS, UNDP, EU seek way forward on challenges of small arms in west africa

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  Abuja 28th April 2016

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Concerned by the increasing presence of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) in the hands of non-state actors and the attendant implication for peace and security in the region, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are jointly working on a strategy to deal with the menace.

Pursuant to this, ECOWAS in conjunction with its development partners held the third Steering Committee meeting of the ECOWAS-EU Small Arms Project on the 28th of April 2016 to evaluate the implementation of the project in 2015 and assess the progress made so far on the approved project work plan.

The implementation of the project (a pilot weapons collection programme), is very crucial to meeting the challenges posed by the prevalence of SALW in the region and the determination of the regional group to fashion out a sustainable way forward.

Declaring the meeting open, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) who was represented by the Director, Peace keeping and Regional Security Dr. Cyriaque Agnekethom noted that the meeting which was called just before the commencement of the United Nations (UN) programme on small arms, would allow stakeholders to make a few decision on the issue of mobilizing resources. He added that the meeting came at an auspicious time as ECOWAS has entered a new circle in Indicative Programme with the EU, the major funding partner.PIC.2 DSC_9413

He said ECOWAS was worried about the continuous flow of SALW to sustain conflict “not just only Nigeria and Mali but also Burkina Faso and Niger. Now we do not know which country would be next…And this is now being compounded by piracy and urban criminality in the region”

Stressing that there was a need to review what has been done so far before heading to the last phase of the project Dr. Agnekethom also enthused that progress is being made in the fight against the menace as ECOWAS and her partners are working together in the area of coordination and exchange of information and strategies all of which is expected to lead to positive steps in the next phase of the project-arms collection and destruction.

The UNDP Country Director, Pa Lamin Beyal pledged the support of the UN’s global development agency to the work that is being done in ECOWAS member states in aid of peace and stability. He said that the people of the region need to get together as a collective to rid the area of the threats. Although he maintained that societies “cannot be totally free of fighting and conflicts” he said the use of sophisticated arms to the detriment of economic, political and social development has become very devastating.

In contributory remarks by participants, concerns were raised on the need to move from good intention to concrete action and the fact that conflicts between herdsmen and host communities were now getting out of hand particularly countries such as Nigeria. Deliberations also centered on the issue of the extra cost brought about by the extra volume of work as well as the procurement and deployment of machines for destruction of weapons since the projects are trans-boundary.PIC.6DSC_9394

The main presentation by Federeick Ampiah gave updates to the 2nd Steering Committee recommendations as well as other recommendations of the Peace and Security Committee (PSC) meetings. There were also situation reports of member states and quarterly reports from project coordinators and regional team leaders.

The 3rd Steering Committee meeting had in attendance, representatives of the National Committee on the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NATCOM) of member states, Ambassador Eineje Onobu, programmes coordinator of the NATCOM Nigeria Mr. Dickson Orji and the representative of the EU Stefania Marrone.

The implementation of the ECOWAS-EU small arms project which relates to the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF) component and practical disarmament in Member States was launched in 2014 in seven beneficiary countries. These are Mali, Liberia, Guinea, Niger, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Nigeria.

ECOWAS holds Mediation and Security Council meeting at the Ambassadorial level towards Regional Peace and security

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PIC.2DSC_9457The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has continued in its efforts towards the realization of Peace and Security in the region by convening its 24th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council at the Ambassadorial level.

In the opening remarks delivered by Dr Antoinette Weeks, Commissioner for Infrastructure, on behalf of the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mrs. Halima Ahmed stated that ‘despite the strides made in the year 2015, a number of challenges still persist’.

‘Difficulties related to the Peace Accords implementation in Mali, insecurity in the northern part of Nigeria and the Lake Chad basin with recurrent attacks from the Boko Haram terror group remains a problem that we continue to grapple with’ , she said.

Also, during the opening ceremony of the one day Meeting which held on 4th May 2016 in Abuja, His Excellency Baboucar Sambe, Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal and Chairman of the Mediation and Security Council at the Ambassadorial level, reiterated that, security challenges still exist in the region and urged Member States to pull their resources together to address them.PIC.8DSC_9467The Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives to ECOWAS were given a detailed briefing on the Political and Security situation in Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Mali as well as the growing menace of transhumance in the region.

Furthermore, they were informed on the status of the implementation of the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism (NEWRMs) and intimated with steps taken to improve maritime security and the post-assessment of the Amani Africa Excercise II.

The Meeting was preparatory to the 36th Ordinary Meeting of the Mediation and Security Council of Ministers scheduled to hold on the 12th May 2016 in Dakar.PIC.4DSC_9454Also in attendance of the Mediation and Security Council meeting was the ECOWAS Director of Political Affairs, Dr.Remi Ajibewa, the Director of Peace Keeping and Regional Security, Dr.Cyriaque Agnekethom and ECOWAS staff.

Senegal wins ECOWAS Wrestling Tournament in Dosso

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pic1 Senegal has won the10th edition of the ECOWAS Tournoi de Lutte Africaine de la Communauté (TOLAC) in Dosso, Niger Republic. Senegal beat Niger Republic in the finals of the team event to win the gold medal, with Niger winning the silver and Nigeria the bronze.

The tournament which featured team and individual events in 66kg, 76kg, 86kg, 100kg and 120kg categories ended on the 8th of May, 2016 with Senegal dominating the medals table at the individual category with Oumar Kane of Senegal winning the gold medal for the 120kg, while Nigeria’s Boltic Sinivie won the silver and Adamou Abdou of Niger the bronze.

Similarly, Senegal won the gold medals for the 100kg, 86kg and 76kg categories while Nigeria won gold for the 66kg and silver for the 100kg and 76kg categories.

TOLAC 2016 which was organized with support from Niger Republic’s Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture featured wrestlers from Bénin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone.

Wrestlers in Action During the TOLAC CompetitionThe tournament was attended by top government delegations from participating member states and His Excellency Salissou Ada, the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture of the Republic of Niger, Dr. Fatimata Dia Sow, the Commissioner of Social Affairs and Gender of the ECOWAS Commission and Abdoulaye Issa, the Governor of the Region of Dosso among others.

Functioning of Community Institutions to top discussions at the ECOWAS statutory meetings in Dakar

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PIC.7IMG_5170Dakar, the Senegalese capital, will host three statutory meetings of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) from 9 to 13 May 2016 which are the 19th meeting of the Administration and Finance Committee (AFC), the 36th ordinary meeting of the Mediation and Security Council (MSC) and the 76th ordinary session of the Council of Ministers.

The 19th meeting of the Administration and Finance Committee (AFC) holding from 9 to 11 May will set the ball rolling for this series of meetings which will feature chiefly, the presentation of the new President, Vice-President and Commissioners of the ECOWAS Commission.

The meeting will also be devoted to the consideration of all major issues affecting the deepening of the regional integration process, particularly the functioning of Community institutions and bodies.

Member States delegates will therefore consider the tasks assigned to the institutions and the Community’s financial situation, in addition to the Memorandum on Phases 1 and 2 of the Lungi Logistics Depot in Sierra Leone.

Discussions will equally focus on the memoranda on the transformation of the Missions Planning and Management Unit into the Peace Support Operations Division, the Community Strategic Framework, payment of resettlement allowances to statutory and professional officers, and the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority.

Other items tabled before the 19th AFC meeting are revision of the ECOWAS staff regulations, presentation of the financial controller’s 2015 interim report, update on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between West Africa and the European Union and status of the Regional Indicative Programme.

The meeting will end on 11 May and will be followed the next day by the 36th ordinary session of the Mediation and Security Council (MSC) involving the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence of ECOWAS Member States.

This one-day meeting will discuss the political and security situation in some Member States and the different electoral processes underway in the region.

The Agenda of the 76th ordinary session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers contains several items slated for decision, endorsement or information.

The Council is made up of Member States’ Ministers of Finance and Integration and will consider in particular, the 2016 ECOWAS Interim Report and the 2015 Final Report of the Financial Controller.

It is also expected to review the report of the 19th AFC meeting and appraise the implementation status of the tasks assigned by its 75th session.

The last two items for the decision of Council are the presentation on the Community’s financial situation and the consideration of the draft Agenda for the 49th ordinary session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government which will be held on 4th June 2016 in the Senegalese capital.

Endorsements will be sought for the report of the Member States’ Ministers of Ouality meeting and the adoption of eleven ECOWAS Harmonized Standards, as well as the final report and communiqué of the 17th ordinary meeting of the Assembly of Health Ministers of the region.

Similarly, a presentation on the Technical Note on the participation of the West African Health Organization (WAHO) at the high-level Summit on HIV/AIDS will be made to Council members who will also consider the memorandum on the Model National Disaster Management Agency for Member States.

Items presented for the information of Council border on institution reforms, the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between West Africa and the European Union and the status of the Regional Indicative Programme.

The 76th ordinary session of the Council of Ministers will afford a forum for the swearing-in of the ECOWAS Commission’s new Vice President and Commissioners who assumed duty in the first quarter of 2016.

The new President, Mr. Marcel de Souza on the other hand, will be sworn in before the 49th ordinary session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government to be held in the Senegalese capital on 4th June 2016.

Marcel De Souza Makes Case For 16th Economy For The 15 ECOWAS Member States

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PIC.1IMG_5188The ECOWAS Commission President, Mr. Marcel de Souza, has called on participants in the 19th Administration and Finance Committee (AFC) meeting which opened on Monday, 9 May 2016 in Dakar, Senegal, to redouble efforts in enhancing the well-being of West African citizens and achieving an ECOWAS of People.

While expressing satisfaction at the remarkable progress and gains recorded in the regional Organization’s 41 years of existence, Mr. de Souza noted that several challenges still remain to be addressed.

It is our collective duty to ensure that steps are taken to effectively build the 16th economy for the 15 Member States, that is, an effective economic and customs union in a political environment that upholds the fundamental rights of citizens and is capable of shrinking the borders of poverty”, he stated.

According to the Commission’s principal, ECOWAS Member States can develop only through active and dynamic regional solidarity and within the context of a common integration policy and strategies.PIC.3IMG_5224

To that end, Mr. Souza welcomed the meeting which he said presented the occasion to interact with the Community’s representatives. He took the opportunity to remind delegates of the importance of the Community Levy which, in his words, constitutes the backbone for financing ECOWAS programmes and activities.

I appeal to all Member States to consistently implement the Community Levy Protocol and the relevant mechanisms, to provide the Community with the needed funds”, he said.

The head of ECOWAS’ executive body undertook, along with his team, to manage with due rigour the resources made available to the organization.

In similar fashion, the Director of Regional Integration of Senegal and AFC Chairman, Mr. Jean Antoine Diouf, called on Member States to honour their Community Levy commitments and also exercise stricter controls over the functioning of ECOWAS institutions.PIC.2IMG_5227

The institutions must show an acute sense of responsibility in the sound management of Community funds and raise the level of its financial governance to meet international standards.

Our resources should be channeled more towards real development programmes rather than operations or coordination efforts, that is to say meetings and retreats of which some add no real value. The diverse staff body is also expected to be skilled and to create value”, the AFC Chairman said.

Mr. Diouf commended the review of the Staff Regulations and hoped the final document, due to be examined by the 19th AFC meeting, will spur ECOWAS officers to give of their best for the Community.

The meeting will examine all major issues relating to the deepening of the regional integration process, especially the report on the functioning of Community institutions and bodies.

Member States’ delegates will thus consider the tasks assigned to institutions and the Community’s financial situation, as well as the Memorandum on Phases 1 and 2 of the Lungi Logistics Depot in Sierra Leone.

Discussions will equally focus on the memoranda on the transformation of the Missions Planning and Management Unit into the Peace Support Operations Division, the Community Strategic Framework, payment of resettlement allowances to statutory and professional officers and the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority.

Other items tabled before the meeting are the review of the ECOWAS staff regulations, presentation of the financial controller’s 2015 interim report, update on the Economic Partnership Agree, and status of the Regional Indicative Programme.

The meeting’s opening ceremony afforded the opportunity to present the new Commissioners, Vice-President and President of the ECOWAS Commission.

ECOWAS Develops New Statutes to Reposition ‘Council of the Wise’

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 Abuja, 19th May 2016

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A meeting on the draft Statute of the ECOWAS Council of the Wise was organized by The ECOWAS Directorate of Mediation and Facilitation in a move to reposition the ECOWAS Council of the Wise organised a two day meeting of Experts from Member States in Abuja, Nigeria from the 4th to 5th May, 2016 with support from the German International Development Agency (GIZ) to draft a new statue.

The ECOWAS Council of the Wise, as defined by Article 20 of the 1999 Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peace-keeping and Security, otherwise known as the Mechanism, is one of the mediation organs of the ECOWAS Commission. The Council of the Wise was operationalized following the adoption of the Mechanism with the appointment of Members of the Council by the President of the Commission, who would, on behalf of the President of the Commission, use their good offices and experience to play the role of mediators, conciliators and facilitators for the purposes of preventive diplomacy and conflict resolution in the region.

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Members of the Council of the Wise have over the years, been engaged in various preventive diplomacy capacities such as  Special Envoys, Mediators, Heads and members of pre-electoral facts finding and election observation missions among other assignments.

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In line with the new impetus to reposition the Council of the Wise, a draft Statute detailing the mandate, function and administrative framework to guide the work of the Council was developed by the ECOWAS Directorate of Mediation and Facilitation which was debated during the meeting in Abuja.

Mrs. Halima Ahmed, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security represented by Mrs. Florence Iheme, Ag. Director, Mediation and Facilitation in her welcome remarks welcomed participants and commended them for accepting to be part of the workshop. She also underlined the major role played by the Council of the Wise in maintaining peace and stability in the ECOWAS region.

After exhaustive deliberations, inputs, comments and observations during the two-day session, the necessary amendments were made to the draft Statute which was adopted at the end of the meeting.


ECOWAS, UNESCO Support African Mathematical Scientists

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Abuja, 19th May 2016

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is lending its support towards the development of Mathematics in the region by partnering with the African Academy of Science, African Mathematical Union and UNESCO in the symposium with the title “Current Research Trends in Mathematical Sciences and Applications” which is taking place in Abuja, Nigeria from the 17th to 20th May, 2016.

In his remarks at the opening ceremony, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Education, Science and Culture, Dr. Hamidou Boly, who was represented by Professor Abdoulaye Maga, the Director, Education, Culture, Science & Technology stated that the aim of the symposium is to eventually help reframe national and regional policies on the subject of mathematics. He added that discussions at the symposium will chart an effective course for further propagation of current developments in the mathematical science for the overall development of Africa.4

The Symposium will amongst other things, provide a forum for the younger generation of Mathematical Scientists to interact with and be inspired by more established mathematicians and improve on current mentor-mentee relationships.

Professor Adewale Roland T. Solarin, CEO, Nigerian Mathematical Centre, and the President, African Mathematical Union (AMU) & UNESCO Chair on Mathematics highlighted during the opening ceremony that the symposium will review and improve on existing networks on the continent as well as create new ones in collaboration with international partners.

The opening ceremony was also attended by the President African Academy of Science (AAS), Professor Aderemi Kuku, the representatives of the Executive Secretary- National Universities Commission, Prof Julius A.Okojie, representative of the Minister of Education as well as partners and keynote speakers from the International Scientific Community.

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ECOWAS, GPEN, COE host Cybercrimes training

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ECOWAS in collaboration with the Global Prosecutors E-crime Network (GPEN) of the International Association of Prosecutors (IAP) and the Council of Europe (COE)  is hosting a three-day training programme for Member States between the 24th and 26th May 2016 in Abuja, Nigeria.

The training for prosecutors and investigators in the region will strengthen the fight against cybercrime in the region by focusing on tackling common challenges inhibiting the detection, investigations and prosecutions of cybercrime and other crimes that generate electronic evidence in Member States.

Get to know ECOWAS training programme holds in abuja

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 DSC00519 Logo_Friedrich_Ebert_Stiftung.svgAbuja 25th May 2016

A five-day programme entitled: Get to Know ECOWAS is to hold from May 30th to the 3rd of June 2016 in Abuja. It would train participants on the role of journalists in advancing the concept of an ECOWAS of the people among others.

The training which is being organized by the Friedrich- Ebert –Stiftung, Nigeria in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission, seeks to draw attention to ECOWAS as one of the socio-political regional success stories on the African continent and beyond standing side by side with other initiatives such as the Andean Pact, Mercosur and South Asian Community of States.

By the reckoning of observers, ECOWAS has made commendable strides on the African continent which also features regional organisations such as Southern African Development Community (SADC), Inter-governmental Authority for Development(IGAD), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the East African Community (EAC).

Some of the milestones accomplished by ECOWAS in this regard include: Common ECOWAS passport, free movement of goods, persons and services, Common External Tariff (CET), Creation of institutional reforms resulting in the emergence of a stable Commission, community Parliament and Court of justice. There is also the taking up of specialised Community services and monitoring of risks and security (Early warning system), Elections monitoring, and health initiatives such as the successful fight against the scourge of Ebola virus, etc.

In view of this, the focus of the training workshop on the role of journalists in the ECOWAS processes is advantageous in order to further popularize ECOWAS operations and programmes and have well informed and engaged ECOWAS citizens by the year 2055.

This will also synergistically bring about a robust relationship between the media, the citizens and those saddled with the responsibility of running the affairs of the regional body.

The training programme seeks to make many more citizens of West Africa and the world at large to have full information on the achievements recorded by ECOWAS in its 41 years of existence as well as its development projects and positive programmes that are slowly transforming the West African region.

Specific thematic areas of focus during the sessions would include: The role of ECOWAS in Ensuring Peace and Stability in West Africa, ICT as a Means of Integrating Peoples across West Africa, Breaking Barriers through Free Movement of Persons and Goods and CET as a Catalyst for Trade Liberalization in West African Region.

Others are: The Story of our Founding Fathers and Establishment of Progressive Regional Body, The Role of Communication Directorate in Creating Awareness Amongst the Citizens of The ECOWAS Community and the Role of the Social Media in advancing the cause of Democracy and Good Governance in West African Region- the Nigerian Example

Through paper presentations, group work and discussions on themes such as Understanding ECOWAS and its Challenges, it is hoped that the exchange of ideas and knowledge would trigger valuable suggestions bringing about the desirable learning curves necessary for the attainment of the lofty goals of the regional community including the formulation of more practical ways of addressing some of the issues like citizens support and ownership of programmes.

ECOWAS moves for continuous support from Nigeria

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Even though ECOWAS enjoys fraternal relations with Nigeria, it nevertheless wants a renewal of the partnership that currently exists given the preeminence of Nigeria among the nations within the fold of the Economic Community of West African States.

To this end, the President of the ECOWAS Commission Alain de Souza on Thursday 26th of May 2016 met with the Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari to discuss matters of regional importance as well as to solicit the continuous support of Nigeria towards ensuring that the regional group fulfill its integration mandate.

President de Souza who was accompanied by the full compliments of senior officials of the ECOWAS Commission had earlier visited the Nigerian ministry of Foreign Affairs where he conferred with the Minister of State Hajia Khadija Bukar Ibrahim before proceeding to the Presidential Villa to meet with the Nigerian President. Both presidents discussed in an atmosphere of utmost cordiality.

Discussions during the meetings centered on matters of urgent regional importance, collective security, finances, Common External Tariffs (CET), the Economic Partnership agreement (EPA), intra-community trade as well as reforms and adjustments at ECOWAS.

President Souza who said he was desirous of consolidating the age-long collaboration between the regional group and Nigeria and to strengthen the existing framework of cooperation noted that, Nigeria alone constitute 200 million of the 320 million people in West Africa “We refer rightly to Nigeria as the locomotive engine of West Africa and problems cannot be solved without the locomotive being involved. So there is a leadership role Nigeria has to play” President Souza added.

Emphasizing Nigeria’s unparalleled leadership role in West Africa, President de Souza recalled the country’s outstanding sacrifices in the past in trying to ensure greater stability and integration of the region with examples abounding its peacekeeping missions in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

He commended President Buhari for Nigeria’s recent successes in the war against terrorism and insurgency.

Responding, the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari formally welcomed de Souza to Nigeria and stressed that he would do what is best to make the mandate of the ECOWAS Commission president and his team realisable.

Earlier, the Nigerian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ibrahim disclosed that Nigeria accords great importance to ECOWAS stressing that the background and wealth of experience of President de Souza as a banker and finance manager would come handing in resolving some of the old issues on ground  before his resumption of office.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission was accompanied on the visits by Vice President Edward Singhatey, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs Peace and Security (PAPS) Halima Ahmed as well as the Commissioner for finance and his Administration and Conference counterpart Messrs. Allieu Sesay and Stephen Nartey

 

Happy ECOWAS Day!

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Happy ECOWAS Day!
Bonne celebration de la journee de la CEDEAO!
Feliz dia da CEDEAO!

 

ECOWAS, F.E.S. emphasize role of the media in west African integration

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The role of the media in bringing the positive impact of the integration activities of ECOWAS to the doorsteps of citizens of West Africa is of more importance today than ever before. This position was strongly echoed at the “Get to Know ECOWAS” Training for journalists which began on the 30th of May 2016 in Abuja.

The study tour and training programme is organized by the Communication Directorate of the ECOWAS Commission in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES). The idea is to create a pool of well-informed media practitioners who would act as catalysts to bridge the information and awareness gap between ECOWAS and the citizens of West Africa while leveraging on the strategic importance of the media to ensure that milestones of ECOWAS are brought closer to the people.

Welcoming journalists from the West African region to the programme on behalf of His Excellency Marcel Alain de Souza, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, the ECOWAS Director of Communication Mrs. Sandra Oulate Fattoh Elleingand stressed the imperativeness of having a crop of better informed journalists about ECOWAS and its institution towards the envisaged greater integration of the area, with an ECOWAS of the people in sight by 2020

Speaking on The Role of Communication Directorate in Creating Awareness Amongst the Citizens of The ECOWAS Community Mrs. Fattoh Elleigand said the Abuja study tour and training programme presents an ample opportunity to discuss mutual interest of the practitioners, ECOWAS Commission and the people of West Africa in general.

She said that it is gratifying that the agenda covers a wide range of interesting items having to do with the operations and programmes of ECOWAS and as they relate to the specific needs of the people of the region.

The Resident Representative, FES Nigeria Madam Seija Sturies maintained that the FES which has been involved in the development process in Nigeria since 1976, is now actively engaged in the promotion of participatory democracy. The focus she said, has become necessary because “without information this will just be a façade”

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Madam Sturies further disclosed that the collaboration with ECOWAS also stems from the fact that FES is a German organization that is committed to the values of social democracy and is collaborating in Nigeria with different stakeholders such as human rights and civil society organisations, the Parliament, as well as Trade Unions

The citizens of West Africa, she continued, deserve to know about the policies and programmes of those that are at the helm of affairs just as they deserve to contribute if need be to the decisions that directly affect them “and the onus is on the media to bring information to citizens”

Making reference to several ECOWAS integration programmes and provisions such as the one on Free Movement of Goods, Persons and Services, she noted that it has become necessary to find out how many of traders in the region are aware of the provisions as they operate across the border whereas, making such information available at the community level can help change some of the practices, and then facilitates and accelerate regional integration and development.

PIC. 10 (2)The German ambassador to Nigeria Michael Zenner maintained that the collaborative effort at bringing about greater awareness of the ECOWAS achievements and prospects stems from the recognition that trans-national problems cannot be solved by one nation alone just as the commitment of ECOWAS to integration, stability and collective security can help to foster public trust among member nations.

Stressing that the task at hand was to sensitise journalists on their role in the actualisation of ECOWAS vision, he said the huge expectations after the study tour is for the journalists to explain the ECOWAS Community programmes to the people, how it works and who it works for knowing that it is only by working together that Ambassador Zenner added that we can build a west African house strong enough to withstand the storms of the future.

During the Get to Know ECOWAS Opening-Day session, a fifteen-minute documentary also featured as well as power point presentations on The History of ECOWAS and Role of ECOWAS in Ensuring Peace and Stability in West Africa.

 

Council of ministers lauds remarkable progress by the Community

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H.E. Marcel Alain de Souza, President, ECOWAS Commission making statement, left, during the opening ceremony of 76th Ordinary session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, with him, H.E. Kadim Diop, Chairman of Council and Minister of African Integration, NEPAD and Promotion of Good Governance of the Republic of Senegal. Dakar, 13th May 2016.


The Senegalese Minister for African Integration and Good Governance, Khadim Diop, has hailed the remarkable progress this year by ECOWAS in the areas of regional integration, democracy and economic development.

In his remarks delivered on Friday, 13 May 2016 in Dakar, Senegal, at the opening of the 76th ordinary session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers which he chairs, Mr Diop expressed satisfaction at the entry into force of the Common External Tariff, adoption of the ECOWAS biometric ID card and signing of the Economic Partnership Agreements with the European Union.

On the political front, Mr Diop commended the peaceful conduct of elections in five Member States, stating that the successful polls have set ECOWAS firmly on the path of sustainable peace and security.

Concerning the major challenges confronting the West African sub-region, Khadim Diop mentioned poverty, youth unemployment, the recent resurgence of some cases of the Ebola Virus Disease, as well as the imperative need to rapidly find lasting solutions to the Community Levy implementation.

He called for Community resources to be redirected towards priority integrating programmes within the region and lauded the bold protective measures already taken by the new President of the Commission to streamline and reduce the cost of running Community Institutions.

In the same vein, the new President of the Community’s executive body, Marcel de Souza descibed the austerity, cost reduction and cash control measures he has put in place with the support of the Commissioners and Heads of ECOWAS Institutions.

He expressed regret at the grim state of ECOWAS’ finances which are derived largely from raw materials and oil exports.

The situation is unlikely to push Member States to pay the Community Levy, Mr. de Souza said and the question should be asked if this is the reason for the Commission’s dangerous and precarious financial situation.

He reiterated the interest that regional integration holds which he said can be achieved only in an environment of peace and security, as well as the risks and threats which impede the economic development of the Community.

To achieve this, Marcel de Souza urged the Community to be particularly careful and to increase its dynamism at a time when ECOWAS is being constantly shaken by violence, sea piracy and terrorist attacks in several Member States, which have resulted in the loss of human lives.

The 76th ordinary session of the Council of Ministers of the regional organisation has some important items on its agenda presented both for decision and approval.

The Council is made up of the Ministers of Finance and Integration of Member States and will consider in particular, the 2016 ECOWAS Interim Report and the 2015 Final Report of the Financial Controller. It is also expected to consider the report of the 19th meeting of the Administration and Finance Committee (AFC) and review the status of the tasks assigned by its 75th session.PIC. 12

The last two items for the decision of Council concern the financial situation of the Community and the consideration of the draft agenda for the 49th ordinary session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government to be held on 4 June 2016 in the Senegalese capital.

Items slated for approval include the report of ECOWAS Ministers of Quality and the adoption of eleven ECOWAS Standards (ECOSTAND), as well as the report and final communiqué of the 17th meeting of the Assembly of Health Ministers.

Council members will be presented with a technical note on the participation of the West African Health Organisation at a high-level HIV/AIDS Summit and will consider the memorandum of the ECOWAS standard model agency for the management of natural disasters in Member States.

Items presented for information are updates on the institutional reforms, Economic Partnership Agreement between West Africa and the European Union and the status of the Regional Indicative Programme.PIC. 14

The 76th ordinary session of the Council of Ministers was also the occasion for the Vice President and seven Commissioners who assumed duty in the first quarter of 2016, to take their oath of office before the President of the Community Court of Justice, Honourable Judge Maria do Ceu Silva Monteiro.


The Commissioners are Ayassor Tchambakou from Togo, responsible for Agriculture, Environnement and Water Resources, Prof Hamidou Boly from Burkina Faso, responsible for Education, Culture, Science and Technology and Allieu Sessay from Sierra Leone, who will handle Finance.

Others are Dr Antoinette Weeks from Liberia, in charge of Infrastructure, Mamadou Traore from Mali, responsible for Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research, Halima Ahmed from Nigeria, with the Political Affairs, Peace and Security portfolio and Laouali Chaïbou from Niger handling Trade, Customs and Free Movement.

 

The Vice-President, Edward David Singhatey is from the Gambia.


ECOWAS tasks journalists on regional integration

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Pic 1The Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency, Edward Singhatey has charged journalists from across the West African region to be conscious of the link between stability, economic development and integration as they carry out their role of adequately reporting ECOWAS news and events in the region.

Vice President Singhatey stated this in Abuja on the 31st of May 2016 at an interactive session with selected young media practitioners who were at the ECOWAS Commission for the Get to Know ECOWAS Programme. He urged the journalists on the need to be alive to trans-national issues of the co-existence of states, also charged them to be more forceful in the reportage of the integration agenda of the regional organization.

Intimating the journalists with some of the strides made by ECOWAS even as the organization is on the verge of rolling out more programmes geared towards effective integration, he cited the ECOWAS biometric card system, trans-national road and rail infrastructure, trade liberalization and greater cooperation and understanding among contiguous states as some of examples in this regard. Pic 2

Vice President Singhatey then fielded questions from journalists on a cross section of issues including the procedure of bringing up cases at the ECOWAS court of justice, institutional reforms, the conditions that warrants ECOWAS’ intervention in member states at periods of political turmoil, the various programmes aimed at poverty reduction in the region as well as the collaboration with the development partners.

The journalists were also put through a variety of trainings with a study tour of the Nigerian National Communications Commission (NCC) for an exposition on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a means of integrating people across West Africa, digitization, Internet access and penetration, development of ICT Policy as well as postal and telecommunications issues

Specifically, the NCC’s Departmental Directors supported the Head, Human Capital Mr. Mathew Maganda, to give presentations on the dynamics and challenges in regulating the telecoms industry, the role of corporate law and strategy, licensing procedure as well as the role of the NCC in the enhancement of the ICT landscape in Nigeria, among others.

49th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government

ECOWAS Parliament to Collaborate with West African Journalists on Information Flow

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Working towards the realization of a more responsive Representation for the People of the Community, the ECOWAS Parliament has pledged to collaborate with media practitioners to achieve the desired level of information flow necessary for citizens’ mobilization and sensitization on the activities of the legislative arm of ECOWAS.

The Parliament which is in its fourth life, is also looking forward to participation in synergy with sister institutions in ensuing greater access to information regarding how its sessions and decisions can benefit the people of West Africa.

These disclosures were made by the ECOWAS Parliament’s Director of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Bertin Some in Abuja when selected journalists from the region visited the Parliament on the eve of the conclusion of a training programme and study tour of ECOWAS institutions.  DSC_9952

Introducing the visitors to the workings of the ECOWAS, Mr. Some explained the status of the various units noting that Its plenary is the highest deliberative body, assisted by the Bureau, standing Committees and as well as the General Secretariat.

Addressing the participants during the closing ceremony of the study tour, the Resident Representative of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) Nigeria, Madam Seija Sturies thanked the recipients of the training and programme organizers while extolling the spirit of fellowship and collaboration that allows development and integration conscious foundations such as FES to work with the ECOWAS Commission in the hope that the people of West Africa would be better informed about the positive activities of the regional body.DSC_9868

Mrs. Sandra Oulate Fattoh Elleingand, the Director of Communication, ECOWAS Commission represented by Mr. Henry Nwagboso of the Library and Documentation Unit, expressed the hope that participants will make good use of the knowledge acquired from the training and ensure wide dissemination and sensitization of Community citizens towards the achievement of our common goals as members of the ECOWAS Community.

The participants in their group reports suggested the need for more capacity building programmes and unhindered access to information regarding ECOWAS activities for journalist within the sub-region, particularly improvements in on-field implementation of the protocol on Free Movement of goods, persons and services in the region.

The ECOWAS Commission and its collaborator for the programme the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) had explained that young journalists in the region were being targeted for the programme because the media is the channel through which the citizens can access information while the engagement of the younger generation to both the internet and social media, especially the growing use of the latter, must be leveraged upon in all the member countries if ECOWAS must achieve its goal of becoming an ECOWAS of the people.  DSC_9949

Participants on the study tour and professional enhancement training programme were drawn from Benin, Faso, Verde, Cote, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Leone and Togo.

Signing of a Headquarters Agreement between the Republic of The Gambia and the ECOWAS

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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of The Gambia Yam Bamba Njie Keita, and His Excellency Marcel A. de Souza, president of the ECOWAS Commission, signed the headquarters Agreement for the Regional Competition Authority during the ECOWAS Heads of State Summit on the 4th of June in Dakar, Senegal. By Decision A / DEC.3 / 05/2015, the location of the Authority complex is assigned to the Republic of Gambia.

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Celebration of ECOWAS at 41: the founding fathers…

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