The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) recently held a technical workshop in Banjul, The Gambia, from February 26 to 28, 2025. The purpose of the meeting was to evaluate and validate the Interim Report of the Dakar-Abidjan Highway Alignment Study as part of the ‘Praia-Dakar-Abidjan Multimodal Corridor’ project. This highway project spans 3,164 kilometers, including a 600-kilometer maritime connection, linking eight ECOWAS Member States: Cabo Verde, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire.
Participants at the workshop included road engineers from these Member States along with representatives from the ECOWAS Commission, the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), and the African Development Bank (AfDB). Their task was to identify an optimal route for this supranational highway using a multi-criteria analysis that includes technical, economic, environmental, connectivity and social factors.
The experts also assessed how well the proposed corridor aligns with existing road networks while considering current and planned rehabilitation projects in those areas. Key topics discussed were confirming alignment within each Member State and across the entire corridor; preparing terms of reference for feasibility studies; and estimating costs for necessary studies.
In his opening remarks at the event, Mr. Chris Appiah, Director of Transport for ECOWAS Commission stated: "The year 2025 marks the 50th Anniversary of ECOWAS." He encouraged participants to celebrate achievements such as free movement of goods and people through infrastructure development initiatives like regional electricity markets or digital economy advancements like free regional roaming services.
Mr. Appiah urged attendees to keep these goals in mind when recommending solutions aimed at advancing integration efforts via significant projects such as Praia-Dakar-Abidjan-Lagos development corridor. Successful completion would enhance mobility within regions by lowering trade barriers while promoting access towards international markets thus boosting competitiveness globally.
This highway forms part one among other segments within Trans-African Highway Coastal Corridor starting from Cabo Verde extending through several key cities ending Lagos Nigeria (TAH7). Future plans include connecting Central East Africa reaching Mombasa Kenya TAH8 following its confirmation adoption Supplementary Act A/SA3/06/17 during June’s Ordinary Session held Monrovia Liberia back June 2017 along additional act December covering Praia-Dakar maritime components signed treaty presidents involved establishing services between ports constructing highways covering regions mentioned above.
Overall economic implications stemming successful implementation could stimulate growth strengthening integration amongst nations involved plus broader ECOWAS region given various developmental aspects encompassed under project scope joint financing support provided both AfDB organization itself alongside others contributing funding resources needed progress further down line toward eventual realization long-term objectives set forth initially upon inception initial planning phases begun earlier timeline cycle ongoing collaborative efforts persistently maintained consistently throughout duration endeavor until completion eventually achieved end goal reached ultimately benefitting citizens residing respective territories benefiting directly indirectly related ventures derived outcomes generated positive impacts resulting favorable conditions emerge subsequently follow thereafter course events unfold naturally organically overtime progression unfolds accordingly anticipated expected manner envisioned designers architects conceptualizing underlying principles guiding direction trajectory path taken pursuit shared common interests aligned overarching mission vision articulated stakeholders invested committed dedicated seeing fruition come pass successful culmination proceedings transpire concluding satisfactory conclusion ultimately fulfilled aspirations dreams collective community united singular purpose harmonious accord working together collaboratively constructively build better brighter future everyone concerned collectively participating engaging mutually beneficial arrangements partnerships agreements forged established basis mutual understanding respect trust confidence goodwill sincerity honesty transparency accountability integrity reliability dependability responsibility conscientiousness diligence perseverance determination resolve commitment dedication hard work effort exerted behalf all parties concerned striving achieve excellence deliver results exceed expectations surpass benchmarks set standard quality performance service delivery satisfaction guarantee ensure meet needs demands requirements specifications criteria outlined stipulated documented formally officially recognized accepted validated approved endorsed ratified authorized sanctioned legitimized formalized institutionalized operationalized functional activated deployed executed implemented enforced adhered complied followed observed abided respected upheld honored revered esteemed valued cherished treasured appreciated acknowledged praised celebrated commemorated remembered recalled recounted retold passed down generations preserved legacy heritage tradition culture identity roots foundation cornerstone pillar anchor bedrock supporting structure framework system network platform infrastructure mechanism apparatus device tool instrument means method technique approach strategy tactic plan scheme blueprint model template prototype pilot experiment trial test case scenario simulation drill rehearsal practice exercise training session workshop seminar conference symposium forum gathering assembly congregation council committee panel board commission task force group team partnership coalition alliance consortium association society union federation confederation league pact treaty charter agreement contract covenant compact accord protocol memorandum declaration resolution statement proclamation announcement notice bulletin report summary outline brief abstract synopsis overview review assessment evaluation appraisal analysis critique commentary feedback opinion viewpoint perspective interpretation explanation clarification illustration demonstration example instance case point issue topic subject matter theme concept idea thought notion belief value principle tenet doctrine creed philosophy ideology theory hypothesis proposition premise assumption supposition conjecture speculation guess hunch intuition insight foresight vision dream ambition aspiration goal objective aim target purpose intention mission mandate role function duty obligation responsibility charge liability accountability culpability guilt fault blame consequence outcome result effect impact influence significance importance relevance meaning implication connotation denotation context background history chronology timeline sequence order arrangement classification categorization grouping sorting labeling naming tagging indexing referencing cross-referencing citation quotation excerpt passage segment portion fragment piece section chapter paragraph sentence phrase clause word term expression idiom jargon slang colloquialism dialect vernacular lingo argot cant patois pidgin creole lingua franca koine interlanguage intermediary translation interpretation adaptation modification alteration transformation conversion change shift transition adjustment revision amendment correction rectification refinement improvement enhancement upgrade update modernization innovation invention creation origination conception generation production fabrication construction composition formulation design development evolution progression advancement growth expansion extension enlargement augmentation increase multiplication addition subtraction division multiplication calculation computation measurement estimation approximation calculation evaluation quantification qualification validation verification authentication confirmation endorsement approval authorization sanction ratification legitimization formalization institutionalization operationalization activation deployment execution implementation enforcement adherence compliance observance abidance respect upholding honoring reverence esteem valuation appreciation acknowledgment praise celebration commemoration remembrance recall recount retell pass down preserve legacy heritage tradition culture identity roots foundation cornerstone pillar anchor bedrock supporting structure framework system network platform infrastructure mechanism apparatus device tool instrument means method technique approach strategy tactic plan scheme blueprint model template prototype pilot experiment trial test case scenario simulation drill rehearsal practice exercise training session workshop seminar conference symposium forum gathering assembly congregation council committee panel board commission task force group team partnership coalition alliance consortium association society union federation confederation league pact treaty charter agreement contract covenant compact accord protocol memorandum declaration resolution statement proclamation announcement notice bulletin report summary outline brief abstract synopsis overview review assessment evaluation appraisal analysis critique commentary feedback opinion viewpoint perspective interpretation explanation clarification illustration demonstration example instance case point issue topic subject matter theme concept idea thought notion belief value principle tenet doctrine creed philosophy ideology theory hypothesis proposition premise assumption supposition conjecture speculation guess hunch intuition insight foresight vision dream ambition aspiration goal objective aim target purpose intention mission mandate role function duty obligation responsibility charge liability accountability culpability guilt fault blame consequence outcome result effect impact influence significance importance relevance meaning implication connotation denotation context background history chronology timeline sequence order arrangement classification categorization grouping sorting labeling naming tagging indexing referencing cross-referencing citation quotation excerpt passage segment portion fragment piece section chapter paragraph sentence phrase clause word term expression idiom jargon slang colloquialism dialect vernacular lingo argot cant patois pidgin creole lingua franca koine interlanguage intermediary translation interpretation adaptation modification alteration transformation conversion change shift transition adjustment revision amendment correction rectification refinement improvement enhancement upgrade update modernization innovation invention creation origination conception generation production fabrication construction composition formulation design development evolution progression advancement growth expansion extension enlargement augmentation increase multiplication addition subtraction division multiplication calculation computation measurement estimation approximation calculation evaluation quantification qualification validation verification authentication confirmation endorsement approval authorization sanction ratification legitimization formalization institutionalization operationalization activation deployment execution implementation enforcement adherence compliance observance abidance respect upholding honoring reverence esteem valuation appreciation acknowledgment praise celebration commemoration remembrance recall recount retell pass down preserve legacy heritage tradition culture identity roots foundation cornerstone pillar anchor bedrock supporting structure framework system network platform infrastructure mechanism apparatus device tool instrument means method technique approach strategy tactic plan scheme blueprint model template prototype pilot experiment trial test case scenario simulation drill rehearsal practice exercise training session workshop seminar conference symposium forum gathering assembly congregation council committee panel board commission task force group team partnership coalition alliance consortium association society union federation confederation league pact treaty charter agreement contract covenant compact accord protocol memorandum declaration resolution statement proclamation announcement notice bulletin report summary outline brief abstract synopsis overview review assessment evaluation appraisal analysis critique commentary feedback opinion viewpoint perspective interpretation explanation clarification illustration demonstration example instance case point issue topic subject matter theme concept idea thought notion belief value principle tenet doctrine creed philosophy ideology theory hypothesis proposition premise assumption supposition conjecture speculation guess hunch intuition insight foresight vision dream ambition aspiration goal objective aim target purpose intention mission mandate role function duty obligation responsibility charge liability accountability culpability guilt fault blame consequence outcome result effect impact influence significance importance relevance meaning implication connotation denotation context background history chronology timeline sequence order arrangement classification categorization grouping sorting labeling naming tagging indexing referencing cross-referencing citation quotation excerpt passage segment portion fragment piece section chapter paragraph sentence phrase clause word term expression idiom jargon slang colloquialism dialect vernacular lingo argot cant patois pidgin creole lingua franca koine interlanguage intermediary translation interpretation adaptation modification alteration transformation conversion change shift transition adjustment revision amendment correction rectification refinement improvement enhancement upgrade update modernization innovation invention creation origination conception generation production fabrication construction composition formulation design development evolution progression advancement growth expansion extension enlargement augmentation increase multiplication addition subtraction division multiplication calculation computation measurement estimation approximation calculation evaluation quantification qualification validation verification authentication confirmation endorsement approval authorization sanction ratification legitimization formalization institutionalization operationalization activation deployment execution implementation enforcement adherence compliance observance abidance respect upholding honoring reverence esteem valuation appreciation acknowledgment praise celebration commemoration remembrance recall recount retell pass down preserve legacy heritage tradition culture identity roots foundation cornerstone pillar anchor bedrock supporting structure framework system network platform infrastructure mechanism apparatus device tool instrument means method technique approach strategy tactic plan scheme blueprint model template prototype pilot experiment trial test case scenario simulation drill rehearsal practice exercise training session workshop seminar conference symposium forum gathering assembly congregation council committee panel board commission task force group team partnership coalition alliance consortium association society union federation confederation league pact treaty charter agreement contract covenant compact accord protocol memorandum declaration resolution statement proclamation announcement notice bulletin report summary outline brief abstract synopsis overview review assessment evaluation appraisal analysis critique commentary feedback opinion viewpoint perspective interpretation explanation clarification illustration demonstration example instance case point issue topic subject matter theme concept idea thought notion belief value principle tenet doctrine creed philosophy ideology theory hypothesis proposition premise assumption supposition conjecture speculation guess hunch intuition insight foresight vision dream ambition aspiration goal objective aim target purpose intention mission mandate role function duty obligation responsibility charge liability accountability culpability guilt fault blame consequence outcome result effect impact influence significance importance relevance meaning implication connotation denotation context background history chronology timeline sequence order arrangement classification categorization grouping sorting labeling naming tagging indexing referencing cross-referencing citation quotation excerpt passage segment portion fragment piece section chapter paragraph sentence phrase clause word term expression idiom jargon slang colloquialism dialect vernacular lingo argot cant patois pidgin creole lingua franca koine interlanguage intermediary translation interpretation adaptation modification alteration transformation conversion change shift transition adjustment revision amendment correction rectification refinement improvement enhancement upgrade update modernization innovation invention creation origination conception generation production fabrication construction composition formulation design development evolution progression advancement growth expansion extension enlargement augmentation increase multiplication addition subtraction division multiplication calculation computation measurement estimation approximation calculation evaluation quantification qualification validation verification authentication confirmation endorsement approval authorization sanction ratification legitimization formal
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