President Muhammadu Buhari says the entire countries in West Africa need collective action towards addressing the challenges confronting the region.
He made the declaration in Abuja on Sunday, while welcoming his counterparts to the 60th session of the Authority Heads of State and government Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), hosted by Nigeria.
He said: “Excellencies and dear colleagues, without doubt, the occasion for which we have gathered here today, is a clear demonstration of our resolute commitment to the effective integration of our sub-region.
“Our sub-region continues to face socio-economic, political, security and environmental fragilities linked to COVID-19 pandemic; our democracy is being challenged in Mali and Guinea.
“Furthermore, threats are looming around, environmental degradation and climate change in our farming system. We are facing a network of criminals, including terrorism.
“All of these challenges require our collective action to work in concert with each other to pragmatically address and provide our people better prospects in life. Today’s realities remind us of the need to continue to forge stronger solidarity to address the new challenges, including the current third wave of the pandemic and its new Omicron variant.”
The Nigerian leader said the ECOWAS Member States need to take concrete decisions that will enhance the welfare of their people.
He said: “I am glad that the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West Africa Health Organisation (WAHO) are continuing to work with our respective National Disease Control Centres to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on our people and sub-region.
“At this 60th Ordinary Session, we have before us several issues of critical importance to the Community, as listed on our Agenda. I would, therefore, urge us to carefully consider the issues to be presented to us and take well-informed concrete decisions for the welfare and wellbeing of our peoples and the future of our community.”
The Nigerian leader noted that the emergence of the COVID-10 pandemic has ravaged socio-economic activities within the region.
He thanked the Chairman of ECOWAS, for giving the needed leadership to member States, as they mitigate the effects of the pandemic.
“Let me seize this opportunity to pay tribute to His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, Chair of Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government and the President of the Republic of Ghana, for the purposeful leadership, commitment and energy he continues to exert, on our behalf, to resolve the challenges confronting our organisation.
“Despite the enormity of these challenges, our Chair has navigated us well and continues to do so. We owe him enormous gratitude. The challenges of COVID-19 and the catastrophic consequences hoisted on our socio-economic environment continue to torment us. The regional resilience, determination and resolution of working together, in solidarity with each other, assisted us greatly to lessen the burdens of the Pandemic,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of ECOWAS, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, restated ECOWAS’ resolve to promote good governance in West Africa, through the sustenance of democratic institutions.
He said: “Democracy in our region, despite recent events, continues to be strongly anchored, as we witnessed recently in the Presidential and legislative elections in Cape Verde and the Gambia.
“I congratulate the people and governments of these two countries for the elections, which were credible, peaceful and transparent. We wish Presidents Jose Neves and Adama Barrow success in the discharge of their mandates.
“However, we are still facing difficult transitions in Mali and Guinea, who have been suspended from membership of ECOWAS. As you recall, our last extraordinary summit on 7th November in Accra, took significant decisions on the two countries.
“In Guinea, we welcome the recent release of President Alpha Conde. We will have the opportunity during this summit to examine the political transition in both countries and assess the next steps to take to help them revert to constitutional order within the agreed deadlines,” he said.
The ECOWAS Chairman also used the occasion to congratulate President Jose Neves of Cape Verde, who was attending the summit for the first time, as well as Adama Barrow of Gambia, who recently got re-elected.
Akufo-Addo said leaders in West Africa would ensure they sustain democracy in the region as well as ensure economic stability and security.
“Again at our last extra-ordinary summit in Accra, we agreed to review the current protocol on democracy and good governance in ECOWAS in the light of contemporary developments.
“Yesterday at an informal forum, we had fruitful discussions on this important matter and we will continue our reflections on all those issues that will influence peace and stability in our region,” the ECOWAS Chairman added.
He thanked his colleagues for their show of support when Ghana contested and won a seat as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
The ECOWAS Chairman, who also used the occasion to call for continued mobilization of troops for peacekeeping in areas where peace is fragile, noted that all is being done to restore democratic governance in Mali and Guinea, where there were undemocratic changes of power.
Giving his goodwill message, Antonio Guterres, who spoke through his Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Annadif Saleh, pledged more support for ECOWAS, as he sued for more cooperation among member States.
Guterres commended Cape Verde and the Gambia for holding peaceful Presidential elections recently.
Similarly, the African Union gave its goodwill message through its Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Nigeria’s Bankole Adeoye,in which it hailed ECOWAS for sustaining democracy in West Africa.
The AU pledged to continue to work closely with ECOWAS to ensure the promotion of good governance within the region.
Those present at the two-day summit include Heads of State and government of all the member States, as well as Former Nigerian leader and ECOWAS Special Envoy and Mediator to Mali, Goodluck Jonathan, and President of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean Kassi Brou, among others.
Prizes were also presented to the various winners of awards of excellence given by ECOWAS to people who distinguished themselves in various fields.
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