The ECOWAS Representation to the Republic of Benin, the Government of Benin, and the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), in collaboration with the University of Abomey-Calavi and the Union of ECOWAS Nationals in Benin (UN-ECOWAS), organized a forum on "Multi-stakeholder dialogues for a more active participation of citizens in the full realization of the ECOWAS of peoples." The forum was held at the Idriss Déby ITNO auditorium of the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC) on May 30 and 31, 2024, as part of commemorating ECOWAS's 49th anniversary in Benin. Read More »

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Omar Alieu Touray, in consultation with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), H.E. Leonardo Santos Simão, has deployed a Joint ECOWAS-AU-UNOWAS Assessment Mission to Sierra Leone. This mission follows up on the Agreement for National Unity signed between the Government of Sierra Leone and the All Peoples Congress (APC) party on October 18, 2023. Read More »

On Saturday, June 15, 2024, the ECOWAS Permanent Representation in Burkina Faso marked the 49th anniversary of the regional institution at its offices. The delayed commemoration was attended by staff from ECOWAS agencies based in Ouagadougou and their families, as well as members of staff from the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), led by its Director General. Read More »

The celebration took place on June 16 in Monrovia, Liberia. The day was celebrated under the international theme: “Education for all children in Africa: The time is now,” encompassing a holistic approach to education for all, despite race, color, creed and religion, among others. Read More »

President Boakai has accepted the resignation of suspended Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) Commissioners Osborne K. Diggs and James Gbarwea. Read More »

In a proclamation issued on Monday, June 17, 2024, Governor Nigel Phillips CBE, acting in accordance with the advice of the Chief Minister, announced that a bye-election to fill the vacant seat on Legislative Council will take place on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. The vacancy follows the resignation of Rosemary Bargo on May 31. Read More »

On Friday, September 22, 2023, the St Helena Government (SHG) announced the establishment of an independently operated clinical negligence compensation scheme. This initiative aims to process and manage claims related to treatment provided by Mr. Sergio Villatoro-Bran. Although there was initial consideration to include another doctor in the scheme, SHG has decided to limit its scope for now but retains the option for future expansion. Read More »

In 2014, the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government endorsed the machine-readable ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) as the official travel document to replace the previous hand-written ECOWAS Travel Certificate. This transition was aimed at enhancing safe, secure, and well-organized intra-regional mobility within the ECOWAS region. Read More »

St. Anthony Parish, Brookfields, Freetown, Sunday 16 June 2024 – His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio and First Lady Fatima Maada Bio attended this year’s thanksgiving and patronal feast day celebration of St. Anthony of Padua on the theme, “Building a Vibrant Parish.” The ceremony brought together Catholic worshippers to reflect on the saint’s life. Read More »

The 300-level International Relations students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, visited the ECOWAS Liaison Office in Lagos on June 5, 2024. This visit was part of their curriculum and a significant step towards earning a BSc degree in International Relations. Read More »

The Sahel and West Africa Club’s Policy Steering Group (PSG) convened in Paris, France, on June 4-5, 2024. The ECOWAS Commission was represented by Mrs. Massandjé Toure-Litse, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture. She was accompanied by Mr. Hemou P. Dedou, Permanent Representative of ECOWAS in Brussels; Mr. Alain Traore, Director of Agriculture and Rural Development; and Mr. Diabate Bazoumana, Executive Assistant. Read More »

At a ceremony in Abuja on June 13, 2024, Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation handed over cheques totaling almost $2 million to the World Food Programme and the Nigerian Red Cross Society. The funding was provided by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which tasked the ministry with coordinating the project. Read More »

The Republic of Liberia Executive Mansion, Monrovia - His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., President and Visitor to the University of Liberia, has issued a formal directive to the Secretary of the Board of Trustees and President of the University of Liberia. Read More »

On Monday, June 10, 2024, the 49th anniversary of ECOWAS was celebrated at the ECOWAS Resident Representation in Côte d’Ivoire. The event was held under the patronage of His Excellency Mr. Kacou Houaja Léon ADOM, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Ivorians Living Abroad. The theme of the celebration was “Strengthening Regional Unity, Peace and Security.” Read More »

With the Malabo Declaration ending in 2025, ECOWAS and the African Union are developing a new 10-year agenda for the region. This process involves stakeholder consultations, research, analysis, and political mobilization, culminating in a declaration of the new agenda by January 2025. The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Malabo Declaration emphasizes involving public and private stakeholders in African agricultural transformation. Read More »

His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., President of the Republic of Liberia, visited former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at her Fish Market residence on June 12, 2024. The visit was to express condolences on the passing of her son, Former Central Bank Deputy Governor Charles Sirleaf. Read More »

The Government of Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has handed over a state-of-the-art pediatric hospital worth $16.6 million to support President Julius Maada Bio’s commitment to improving healthcare service delivery in Sierra Leone. The President Dr. Julius Maada Bio Pediatric Centre of Excellence has a bed capacity of 166 for patients and 46 for mothers in the Special Baby Care Unit. It includes an emergency room, an operation theatre, a special outpatient clinic, a pediatric intensive care unit, a high-dependency unit, an isolation unit, a... Read More »

From June 10 to 14, 2024, in Lomé, Togo, the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) is conducting a training workshop for national stakeholders on case management in consumer protection. The ERCA, which represents ECOWAS on consumer protection issues, is tasked with implementing Directive A/DIR.2/07/23 on consumer protection. This directive was adopted by the Authority of Heads of State and Government at their ordinary session on July 9, 2023, in Bissau. Read More »

State House, Freetown, Friday 14 June 2024 – Head of Grant Management Division at Global Fund, Mark Eldon-Edington, and his team from Geneva have officially presented a cheque for $136,244,674 to His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio as part of its new grant cycle to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Read More »

Acting in accordance with section 5(2) of the Public Holidays Ordinance, 1945, His Excellency the Governor has directed that Friday, November 15, 2024, shall be observed as a public holiday to mark the occasion of the birthday of His Majesty King Charles III. Read More »