Buhari charges new ECOWAS leaders on quick reforms

05 Dec Buhari charges new ECOWAS leaders on quick reforms

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday called on the new management team at ECOWAS Commission, led by Dr. Omar Alieu Toure, to complete the review and harmonisation of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the sub-regional body.

Buhari spoke in Abuja in his welcome address at the 62nd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

“The Commission must, therefore, work assiduously to complete the review and harmonisation of the Protocols on Good Governance and Democracy, as this would enable our sub-region to sustain our collective efforts to deepen, not only democracy, but her dividends through good governance to the Community citizens.

“Related to this is the urgent need to fully bring into operation, the Regional Action Plan on the Fight Against Terrorism and other acts of criminality in the sub- region, as enhanced safety will sustain national governance efforts that would ensure the growth and progress of our sub- region,” the President said.

Welcoming fellow regional leaders, President Buhari noted that this year’s Summit was the 8th that Nigeria, under his leadership, has hosted.

He said: “All of those occasions, including this one, have brought honour and respect to my country as Nigeria continues to be at the centre of sustained solidarity and collaborative efforts to maximise our relationships in order to address common challenges to our countries and the Community’s citizens.” The Nigerian leader paid tribute to President Kuffour Addo-Nana of Ghana, the immediate past Chairperson of the Authority for his services and congratulated President Umaro Embalo of Guinea Bissau on assuming the leadership of the sub-regional organization.

Buhari expressed his confidence in the latter’s ability to “discharge his responsibilities to the sub-region, as well as meet the expectations of the Community citizens.”

President Buhari thanked fellow leaders for the support he received as the Regional Champion on COVID–19 at a time the pandemic ravaged the entire world, ascribing the successes recorded in the region to their cooperation.

The President, however, lamented that despite the efforts of ECOWAS leaders towards deepening democracy, the region suffered some unpleasant setbacks.

Earlier in the day at the official ground-breaking ceremony of the new ECOWAS Headquarters Building, President Buhari expressed his appreciation to the Government of the People’s Republic of China, “for their financial and technical contribution to ensuring that a monument of this nature, is built on behalf of our region.”

The building, to be named the EYE OF WEST AFRICA, with an expected completion period of 26 months, would house the three major ECOWAS Institutions, namely the ECOWAS Commission, the Community Court of Justice and the Parliament.