Dakar, June 10, 2024 – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) marked its 49th anniversary today with a significant joint activity held at the King Fahd Hôtel in Dakar. Organized by the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) and the ECOWAS Gender and Development Centre (CCDG), with participation from the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), this year’s celebration centered around the theme: “Strengthening Regional Unity, Peace, and Security.”
The event brought together key stakeholders, including government representatives, members of the diplomatic community, and various partners, emphasizing the collaborative spirit essential for achieving the region’s ambitious goals.
Edwin W. Harris Jr., Director General of GIABA, on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, expressed a message of unity: “In unity, we will preserve peace and strengthen our actions for the security of our Member States and our people. Through unity, we will preserve regional stability and the harmonious political and socio-economic development of our community.”
A central feature of the celebration was a joint presentation by Sandra Oulaté Fattoh, Director of CCDG, and Francis Sempore, Executive Director of ECREEE. Their presentation emphasized the significant contributions of CCDG and ECREEE towards realizing ECOWAS Vision 2050—a strategic framework for inclusive and sustainable development in the region.
In her address, Sandra Oulaté Fattoh highlighted gender equality's critical role in fostering regional stability and development. She stated: “ECOWAS, through the CCDG, seeks to strengthen national laws for protecting women, girls and children; promote women's participation in decision-making bodies; and support women's socio-economic resilience in areas of tension or post-conflict.”
Francis Sempore focused on renewable energy's importance in driving economic growth and environmental sustainability. “CDCG has been involved in consolidating the strategy for gender mainstreaming within ECREEE to ensure better operationalization of the Regional Policy on Gender Mainstreaming in Energy Access,” he noted.
This anniversary celebration not only commemorates nearly five decades of ECOWAS’s achievements but also reinforces its institutions' commitment to work synergistically towards a peaceful, united, and prosperous West Africa. As ECOWAS looks ahead to its Vision 2050, today's collaborative efforts will undoubtedly serve as a cornerstone for future successes.
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