ECOWAS leaders holding summit in Abuja

ECOWAS leaders holding summit in Abuja
Source: Nordic Africa News
February 17, 2010
The 37th ordinary session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government opened in Abuja, Nigeria on Tuesday, with a call on the leaders to ensure that the construction of the Joint Border Post (JBP), which facilitate free movement along the borders commence in 2010.

The acting President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck E. Jonathan in his opening remarks said as the ECOWAS Leaders have had cause to draw attention to on a number of occasions, the full implementation of the Protocol on Free Movement of persons, Goods and Services and the Right of Residence and Establishment requires their collective political will.

He stressed the need for them to admonish and, if possible sanction any of their officials who would be found deliberately flouting the letter and spirit of this protocol.

He said an added issue the leaders should take into consideration is to jointly address the roadmap for the realization of the second regional currency, the eco, which would, hopefully, be launched on schedule as they have previously agreed.

The Nigerian Acting president further pledged his country’s commitment to hosting the Round Table Donor Conference, which failed to take place last year.

He expressed hope that the conference would take place this year with the aim of raising funds to assist Guinea Bissau in building human capacity, providing critical infrastructure, promoting security-sector-reform and driving poverty reduction.

The out-going president of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas expressed satisfaction with the leaders for the level of peace and security the region is experiencing.

He boasted that the guns have fallen silent in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivore and Guinea Bissau and that the process of reconstruction, restoration of institutions and infrastructure, as well as national reconciliation, are fully underway.

Dr. Chambas, who is the first president of the ECOWAS Commission, recalled that significant progress has been made in resolving local conflicts and ending criminality and impunity in several parts of the region, and that the culture of democracy is gradually taking root in the region to the extent that all of the ECOWAS leaders at the Summit were either elected or confirmed in their positions through the ballot box and constitutional means.

The United Nations Special Representative for West Africa Said Djinnit reaffirmed the commitment of the United Nations to continuously work closely with the mediator , Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaore, ECOWAS and the African Union, as well as with other international stakeholders to ensure that the current opportunity be fully seized by the Guineans to restore democratic rule and build their nation.

The opening session of the summit was followed with a closed-door session by the ECOWAS leaders.

DIVERSITY VISA LOTTERY 2011

Sanniquellie Project
Our Donors and Contributors Names

Barrack Obama Takes Oath

Windows 7 Launched

Sanniquellie Mosque Project

Enter the Project Center

OK International is currently offering a special one way & round trip fare from JFK to Liberia and from Liberia to all U.S. destinations

Contact our travel consultants @ 718-206-4982 or 917-251-8343. Contact O. Kamara @ 212- 882-1050 for group travel.

Researchers Crack WPA Encryption

Check out UTD Alumni Site

Alhaji G.V. Kromah