President Akufo-Addo of Ghana has been elected as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) at the grouping’s 57th Summit that took place Monday in Niamey, capital of Niger. The Ghanaian President, who takes over from President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, underlined in his acceptance speech the challenges confronting West Africa and the progress made so far to drive the agenda of regional integration. The Ghanaian president stressed the need to protect, at all costs, the grouping’s freedom and independence of action, so that the development of the Community responds to the needs and aspirations of the peoples, and not to the goals of external agencies and forces. The ECOWAS summit discussed several reports, including the one by the Mediation and Security Council. The last time a Ghanaian President was elected ECOWAS Chairman was during the 44th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS when former President John Dramani Mahama took over from Ivorian President Allasane Ouattara.

Source: The North Africa Journal September 08, 2020 11:15 UTC