Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo has called upon the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission to build a united, economically prosperous, politically stable, and secured Community that meets the aspirations of the citizens of the Community.
He made the call on Monday when he paid a working visit to the offices of the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, Nigeria.
“As we round off the implementation of ECOWAS Vision 2020, and finalise the development of Vision 2050, we should strive to make ECOWAS a Community in which our dreams of prosperity, peace, security, integration and development are realised for the well-being of its citizens,” he said.
The 15-member West African bloc was formed in 1975 with a mandate of promoting economic integration in all fields of activity of the constituting countries.
Its influence has continued to grow over the years, seeing it become a vocal authority in the region’s affairs.
ECOWAS has also played a role in West Africa’s political scene, the latest being the crisis in Mali.
The bloc was among the first authorities to condemn the ouster of former Mali president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, moving on to pressure the military junta to cede power to a civilian leader.
In his address on Monday, President Akufo-Addo reiterated calls for unity in the region’s decisions in order to overcome arising challenges.
“The challenges in the areas of democracy, health, security, economy, trade and currency, must be addressed in a spirit of genuine cooperation and solidarity, if we are to overcome them, which I am confident we can. I believe that, collectively, we can all make ECOWAS the most viable regional bloc in Africa, and realise the vision of transforming ECOWAS from ‘a body of states to a community of peoples’,” President Akufo-Addo said.
