The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) convened a technical review meeting on the digital market study in all ECOWAS Member States from September 9-13, 2024, in Freetown, Republic of Sierra Leone. The meeting aimed to better understand the dynamics of this rapidly growing sector. Read More »

In Accra, from September 16 to 17, 2024, as part of the implementation of the regional environmental policy, ECOWAS organized a regional consultative workshop on the draft regional action plan on plastics management and the circular economy. The event was supported by the Program for Blue Economy (PROBLUE), a multi-donor umbrella Trust Fund administered by the World Bank. Read More »

The Education, Skills and Employment Portfolio (ESE) has issued a warning about fraudulent Facebook posts advertising free online courses under the guise of the ‘Ministry of Education’ or in collaboration with universities. These posts utilize images of the St Helena crest, flag, and photos of members from both the Legislative and Executive Council, including the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Read More »

ECOWAS is strengthening its social protection systems through a five-day workshop in Abuja from 16th to 20th September 2024. The workshop, led by experts in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the African Union, aims to build a network of skilled social protection leaders across Africa. It follows a system-strengthening approach to enhance the design and efficiency of social systems. Read More »

Oxford, United Kingdom, Wednesday 18 September 2024 – President Dr. Julius Maada Bio delivered a keynote address at Oxford University’s OpenAg Symposium on the theme, “Power Plants: Transforming Food, Energy, and Water Security through Agriculture.” He emphasized the interconnected nature of global challenges such as climate change, food security, and energy access, calling for innovative solutions to address these pressing issues. Read More »

The St Helena Government has addressed public interest concerning the future of Barnview, a Crown property. Originally transferred to the Crown Estate by the Health and Social Care Portfolio in March 2020, Barnview had been vacant for five years following an assessment that deemed it unsuitable for care services under current health standards. The building, which opened in 1988, would have required significant financial investment to meet these standards. Read More »

In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at fostering economic independence and social reintegration, the Office of the Resident Representative of the President of ECOWAS Commission in Liberia has distributed start-up kits to thirteen at-risk youths in Monrovia on Friday, September 13, 2024. Read More »

As part of the capitalization and consolidation of the implementation of the West Africa Regional Indicative Program (RIP) of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF), the UEMOA and ECOWAS Commissions held an inter-organizational strategic workshop in Lomé from September 9 to 13, 2024. Read More »

As part of its mandate to promote free, transparent, and credible elections in the West African region, the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) is deploying a hybrid post-election follow-up and needs assessment mission to Cotonou, Benin, from September 15 to 21, 2024. Read More »

His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has successfully harvested 7 tonnes of fish and various agricultural produce from his farm in Mafintha, Koya Chiefdom, Port Loko District. This initiative is part of the President’s commitment to leadership by example as he works towards achieving the country’s Food Security Agenda. Read More »

Lungi, Freetown International Airport, Monday, 16 September 2024 — His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has departed for the United Kingdom to deliver the Keynote Address at the fourth edition of the OpenAg Symposium, which will focus on the future of food and agriculture in a changing climate. Read More »

An independent team of policing experts is conducting a review of the Royal St Helena Police (RSHP) from Monday, September 16 to Friday, September 20, 2024. Led by the FCDO Policing Advisor, Andrew Munday, who has spent the past week on Ascension reviewing RSHP activities there, the FCDO-funded review aims to assess the progress made since the previous inspection in 2020. Read More »

The realization of the vision to construct a homogeneous 6-lane dual carriage highway from Abidjan to Lagos, incorporating economic and social development components, achieved a significant milestone with the conclusion of a 4-day technical workshop. This workshop, which included road engineers from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo, aimed to finalize the Detailed Technical Design Study of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Project. The event concluded on Saturday, September 14th, 2024, with a comprehensive review of technical designs and drawings. Read More »

Mark Dickinson, president of the UK Trades Union Congress (TUC), said that the TUC "condemns" the arrest of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero by National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu. Dickinson shared his statement on September 10, shortly after Ajaero was released. Read More »

His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has paid tribute to his late sister, Elizabeth Baby Bio, during her funeral service at St. Joseph’s Catholic Community Church in Tihun. President Bio reflected on the profound loss to the family, describing her passing as one that has left an irreplaceable void. Read More »

The Government of Liberia has adopted two critical Public Financial Management (PFM) regulations aimed at enhancing governance and the efficient management of public resources. The amended and Restated Public Financial Management Regulations and the Revenue Sharing Regulations were officially endorsed during an emergency Cabinet meeting held at the Executive Mansion on Friday, September 13, 2024. Read More »

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has appointed Dr. Joseph Isaac as President of Margibi University, formerly Harbel College in Margibi County. Read More »

Councillor Andrew Turner, as part of a delegation, departed St Helena on Saturday, 7 September 2024, to attend the 6th UK Overseas Territories Forum on the Oversight of Public Finances and Good Governance. The forum was held in Westminster from 10 to 12 September 2024. Further details can be found on the SHG website. Read More »

The ECOWAS Commission, in collaboration with GIZ, is organizing a validation workshop on Records Management Policy and Manual in Lagos from September 9 to 13, 2024. Read More »

The Abidjan-Lagos corridor highway, a priority project of ECOWAS, has advanced towards completing its technical studies with the final validation of revised draft design reports. This milestone was achieved during a four-day workshop that began on September 11, 2024, in Lagos, Nigeria. The event saw the participation of project directors and engineers from the five member countries along the corridor. Read More »