Retired General Birame Diop of Senegal has assumed office as the new President of the ECOWAS Commission, succeeding Dr Omar Alieu Touray of The Gambia after the completion of his four-year tenure.
Diop officially took over the leadership of the West African regional bloc’s executive arm during a formal welcome and send-off ceremony for incoming and outgoing statutory appointees and heads of ECOWAS institutions.
Also assuming office is Nigeria’s Anthony Ogunjimi, who succeeded Togo’s Mrs Damtien Tchintchibidja as Vice President of the Commission. 
In a statement published on its website, ECOWAS said the ceremony marked the transition of leadership following the completion of the four-year tenure of the outgoing President and other statutory appointees.
The Commission welcomed the new leadership and expressed appreciation to the outgoing officials for their service to the regional Organisation.
The handing-over ceremony held at the Commission’s new headquarters in Abuja, included the unveiling of the ECOWAS@50 Special Exclusive Publication by Africa Agenda Network in partnership with the ECOWAS Commission, the symbolic presentation of the Management Performance Compendium to the incoming President, and the signing of handover Notes by the outgoing and incoming Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Statutory appointees.
In his farewell address, the outgoing President, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and reflected On the achievements of his four-year tenure, stressing that the Outgoing leadership was leaving behind “not only memories, speeches And decisions” but also “a record” of institutional and regional Accomplishments”.
In his inaugural address, the new President of the ECOWAS Commission, Retired General Birame Diop, called for renewed unity, solidarity and Mutual respect as the foundation for advancing regional integration And strengthening the effectiveness of the ECOWAS Commission.
He urged staff and stakeholders to work collectively to build a united, cohesive and efficient institution capable of responding to the aspirations and challenges of the West African region.
“My solemn appeal to all of you is to make way for unity and solidarity, based on mutual respect,” he said
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He stressed that the strength of regional integration would be measured by the Community’s collective ability to remain United and purposeful.
“A new chapter has been opened for West African integration. Let us Work together to make it a chapter of peace, dignity and shared Prosperity,” he declared.
The other incoming statutory appointees are : Dr. Kalilou Sylla of Côte d’Ivoire Commissioner for Internal Services; Mrs. Francess Alghali of Sierra Leone, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace And Security; Mr. Dehpue Yenpea Zuo of Liberia, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture; Mr. Amin Amidu Sulemani of Ghana,
Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation; Professor Nassirou Bako-Arifari of Benin Republic, Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs; Ms. Carla Maria Borges Bettencourt Cabo Verde, Auditor-General for ECOWAS Institutions; Dr. Palokinam Pitche of Togo, Director-General of the West African Health Organization; and Mr. Mam Cherno Jallow, Director-General of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West
