WEST AFRICA – Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has been elected Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

 The Ghanaian President, was elected unanimously by his peers at the recently concluded 57th ECOWAS Summit held in Niamey, Niger.

President Akufo-Addo thanked the Assembly for the honour, and assured that he will do his utmost in discharge his duties to the best of his abilities.

He noted that as much as considerable progress has been made since the establishment of ECOWAS, some forty-five (45) years ago, there was much more to be done to consolidate the socio-economic and political gains made over the years.

He particularly highlighted 5 challenges affecting the region that members of the ECOWAS region needed to address.

These challenges include are the continuing activities of terrorists in the Region concentrated, the COVID-19 pandemic, the imminent coming into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area; the monetary union within the ECOWAS space; and the consolidation of democratic governance in the turbulent conditions of the Community.

He further noted that the challenges affected ECOWAS must be addressed in a spirit of genuine co-operation and solidarity, if the region were to succeed in overcoming them.

President Akufo-Addo noted that in while addressing the challenges, ECOWAS leaders “must protect, at all costs, our freedom and independence of action, so that the development of our Community responds to the needs and aspirations of our peoples, and not to the goals of external agencies and forces.”

“We must protect, at all costs, our freedom and independence of action, so that the development of our Community responds to the needs and aspirations of our peoples, and not to the goals of external agencies and forces.”

President Nana Akufo-Addo- President of Ghana & Chairman, Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS

“Our peoples deserve no less, and the objectives of peace, progress and prosperity will be within our reach, realising the historic purposes of ECOWAS.”

President AKufo-Addo takes over the mantle of leadership from the President of Niger, His Excellency Mahamadou Issoufou, and will serve as Chair for a period of one year.

Previous Heads of State of Ghana that have been elected to chair the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS include: Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor, and John Dramani Mahama.

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