The ECOWAS Permanent Observer to the United Nations, Ambassador Kinza Jawara-Njai, recently delivered a keynote address at the University of Massachussetts-Boston’s 6th Africa Day and 2024 Academic Conference. The theme of the event was "Democratic Backsliding in West Africa: Contradictions, Challenges, and Difference."In her speech, Ambassador Jawara-Njai focused on the topic of "Why West African Democracy is on the Right Path despite Challenges." She highlighted the efforts of ECOWAS in promoting democracy, good governance, and development in West Africa, emphasizing... Read More »

In April 2023, it was announced that access to certain areas of the Peaks National Park (PNP) would be prohibited due to concerns about plant pathogens affecting endemic trees within the park. The prohibition, initially set until the end of December 2023, was extended until March 2024 for review based on relevant information and evidence.The Environment, Natural Resources and Planning Portfolio (ENRP) has been actively working to address the issue since the discovery of the pathogens over a year ago. Collaborating with organizations such as the St Helena Research... Read More »

St Helena has launched a period of public engagement on the draft Sustainable Economic Development Strategy and Delivery Plan 2023-2033 (SEDS). The SEDS will serve as the overarching blueprint for developing the territory’s economy, replacing the Sustainable Economic Development Plan 2018-2028 (SEDP).The new SEDS focuses on two key goals: the growth of the working age population and the increase in government revenue collected through economic activity. These priorities are reflected in the six objectives outlined in the SEDS, aimed at advancing these goals and driving... Read More »

Apr 30 2024The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has made significant nominations and appointments within the government, affecting key ministries and agencies. These appointments, as mentioned in a statement from the Executive Mansion in Monrovia, are subject to confirmation by the Liberian Senate.Among the notable appointments are Brigadier General (Retired) Geraldine Janet George as the Minister of National Defense, Major General (Retired) Prince Charles Johnson, III as the Director of the National Security Agency (NSA),... Read More »

The Presidents of Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Congo, Téodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and Denis Sassou-Nguesso, have been honored with the Babacar Ndiaye Prize 2024 by the "Africa Road Builders" Selection Committee. President Obiang Nguema was recognized "for his remarkable achievements in improving the road infrastructure in his country," while President Sassou-Nguesso was acknowledged "in recognition of his commitment to the development of road infrastructure."In Equatorial Guinea, President Obiang Nguema's efforts were highlighted with the completion of... Read More »

African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina emphasized the need for collaboration between public and private sectors to unlock Africa's agricultural potential during the World Economic Forum "Food and Water for All" panel discussion in Riyadh. Adesina's impassioned plea for greater cooperation aimed at transforming Africa's agriculture production to contribute to global food security.Adesina highlighted the need for increased investment in infrastructure in the agricultural sector, stating, "The potential is undeniable, but nobody eats potential… We have... Read More »

The Head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Election Observation Mission, Mrs Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, expressed her satisfaction with the smooth organization of the double election in Togo. She visited several polling stations in Lomé and praised the timely opening and peaceful conduct of electoral procedures.Accompanied by a team of officials, Mrs Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang and her colleagues visited the ECOWAS Situation Room set up for the parliamentary and regional elections. The team is in constant contact with ECOWAS Observers deployed in... Read More »

The St Helena Government (SHG) has announced the launch of a new data protection awareness campaign aimed at safeguarding the privacy of its citizens and residents in the digital age. The initiative comes as the island embraces new technologies and works towards introducing comprehensive data protection legislation.According to the SHG, the project has reached a significant milestone with the enlistment of Bruce & Butler Ltd, a UK-based data protection consultancy, to develop a robust data privacy legal framework. Alex Adams of Juju Digital Ltd has also been appointed as... Read More »

The African Development Bank Group and the World Health Organisation have announced plans to enhance their collaboration in order to elevate the status of primary healthcare in Africa. This decision was made during a meeting between the Bank Group’s President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, and the Director-General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, on the sidelines of the Islamic Development Bank’s annual meetings in Riyadh.Dr. Adesina emphasized the significance of investing in Africa's primary healthcare infrastructure, stating, "Investing in continent’s primary healthcare... Read More »

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Judicial Council held a three-day sub-committee meeting on the enforcement of the judgements of the Community Court of Justice in Dakar, Senegal, from April 23rd to 25th, 2024. The meeting aimed to examine rules and texts related to the enforcement of the Court’s judgments and explore the possibility of establishing an Appeals Chamber.In his opening remarks, the President of the Chamber of the Supreme Court of Senegal, Hon. Justice Jean Louis Paul Toupane, welcomed the subcommittee members and emphasized the... Read More »

Shareholders of Zenith Bank Plc have given their unanimous approval for the restructuring of the Bank into a holding company during a court-ordered Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held virtually on Friday, April 26, 2024. In line with the Scheme of Arrangement dated March 28, 2024, pursuant to Section 715 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020, the shareholders voted to transfer shares to Zenith Bank Holding Company Plc in exchange for the allotment of shares in the HoldCo in the same proportion to their shareholding in the Bank.During the EGM, Founder... Read More »

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has recently participated in the International Development Association Heads of State Summit in Kenya. The summit was attended by various heads of state from around the world. President Bio's presence at the event highlights Sierra Leone's commitment to international development cooperation.During the summit, President Bio emphasized the importance of global partnerships in achieving sustainable development goals. He also discussed key issues related to development, poverty alleviation, and economic growth with his counterparts.... Read More »

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is actively engaged in the "High-Level Workshop on Regional Integration" currently taking place in Kasane, Botswana. The workshop, held both physically and virtually, is focused on the theme "43 Years of Regional Integration: Where are we and way forward”.The workshop aims to deepen understanding, enhance collaboration, and coordinate efforts towards advancing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Integration Agenda. Attendees, including Senior Officers from SADC, African Union, UNECA, ECOWAS, and... Read More »

President Boakai Constitutes National Education Advisory Board, Board of Governors, and Principal of BWIApr 29, 2024The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has constituted the National Education Advisory Board, Board of Governors, and the Principal of the Booker Washington Institute (BWI).The National Education Advisory Board includes prominent individuals such as the Minister of Education, the Executive Secretary of the Association of Liberian Universities, and various other distinguished members.The Board of Governors of... Read More »

Brewing giant Nigerian Breweries Plc has reported a remarkable performance for the first quarter of 2024, showcasing an 84% increase in revenue compared to the same period in 2023. The unaudited results, disclosed on April 29, 2024, to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), revealed a revenue of N227 billion, with operating activities growing by over 1000%.According to the Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Hans Essaadi, the company's success can be attributed to various factors, including product innovation, cost-saving measures, and pricing adjustments driven by inflation.... Read More »

African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina has highlighted the urgent need for increased financing to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by setting a new annual financial target.Speaking at the Islamic Development Bank’s 50th-anniversary celebrations in Riyadh, Adesina pointed out a significant annual financial shortfall of $4 trillion, which poses a threat to the SDGs' attainment by 2030.Adesina emphasized the critical role of multilateral development banks in addressing the financial gap through enhanced collaboration and innovative... Read More »

The ECOWAS Council of the Wise has convened a two-day retreat in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to address the pressing governance, peace, and security challenges in the West African region. The retreat, themed "Leveraging and Responding to the Current Governance, Peace, Security Challenges in the Ecowas Region," aims to reinvigorate the council and enhance its role in promoting peace, security, and stability.During the retreat, the council members will focus on various issues, including the resurgence of military coups, democratic reversals, electoral irregularities, political... Read More »

The Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (RAAF) has been lauded for its ten years of service in advancing agricultural development in West Africa and the Sahel. During the recent meeting of the RAAF Strategic Orientation Committee in Lomé, members had the opportunity to review the agency's progress.According to the ten-year capitalisation report presented during the meeting, RAAF has made significant strides in promoting agricultural development and food security in the region. Through collaborations with Member States, technical institutions, and development... Read More »

ECOWAS bids farewell to Mr Ousseini Salifou, the First Executive Director of the Regional Agriculture and Food Agency (RAAF), as he embarks on a well-deserved retirement after a successful tenure. Mr Salifou's leadership and dedication have significantly contributed to the implementation of the ECOWAS Regional Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP).Having led RAAF since July 2013, Mr Salifou was instrumental in the development and implementation of key agricultural initiatives within the region. His previous role as the ECOWAS Commissioner for Agriculture, Environment, and Water... Read More »

Stakeholders involved in the implementation of projects and programmes under the Regional Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) recently gathered to review the activities of 2023. The meetings of the regional steering committees for projects and programmes (COPILS) took place in Lomé, Togo, from 22 to 24 April 2024, under the leadership of the ECOWAS Commission.During the discussions, it was emphasized that "working together is a key driver for better coordination at the regional level," as highlighted in the press release of CoPils 2024. This sentiment underscores the importance... Read More »