Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission has reiterated the regional bloc’s resilience and commitment to deepen West African integration in the face of changing political, security and economic challenges.
Speaking at the 96th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers and the Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Touray said the sub-region remained focused on strengthening regional cooperation and integration amidst changing realities.
In a statement published on the ECOWAS Commission’s website, Touray listed some of the key achievements during his four-year tenure which included the operationalisation of the Permanent Representatives Committee, commissioning of the Mfum-Ekok Bridge and Joint Border Post, establishment of the ECOWAS Business Council and relocation of the Commission to its new headquarters in Abuja.
“Ministers are asked to provide strategic direction on governance, financial sustainability, regional integration and emerging policy priorities,” ECOWAS Commission President Mediation and Security Division, Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah said in a statement. “ECOWAS remains committed to the promotion of peace, stability and sustainable development in West Africa,” he added.
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“Despite these challenges we have continued to strengthen the foundations of regional integration… “These milestones are clear evidence of our joint commitment to creating stronger institutions that can better serve the people of West Africa,” he added.
In his opening address, Chairperson of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers and Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Timothy Musa Kabba, urged Member States to strengthen unity and collective action in dealing with the evolving political, security and socio-economic challenges in the region.
He urged ministers to “come up with practical, results-oriented recommendations on regional integration, peace and security, economic development and institutional reforms that would guide decisions of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
He reaffirmed Sierra Leone’s commitment to a peaceful, democratic and fully integrated West Africa through dialogue, co-operation and shared responsibility.
The Ministers, during the 2-day meeting, reviewed the financial situation of the Community, memoranda on the Security and Political Situation in the Region, on the action plan (2027 – 2030) on the return of Cultural Property to their Countries of Origin, on the operationalization of the ECOWAS-ECOSOCC, among others.
