34th ECOWAS Summit Ends

Monrovia, Liberia - President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has called on leaders in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to support women candidates in upcoming elections in a number of member countries of the Community. If exercised successfully, the President noted, the measure will help to promote women’s empowerment in the region.

According to an Executive Mansion release, the President spoke Monday in Abuja, Nigeria, at the 34th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS. The President said ECOWAS has been very successful, describing the economic grouping as an important vehicle in the realization of a union government of Africa. The Liberian leader noted the gains made by ECOWAS thus far, including its role in ending the civil wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia as well as the progress made in Cote d’Ivoire towards the restoration of peace.

At the end of the Summit, the Heads of State of ECOWAS noted with concern the prevailing high cost for food and expressed satisfaction at efforts made individually by member states to address this challenge. The leaders further commended the ECOWAS Commission for facilitating an emergency regional consultative meeting on the issue. They noted that the food crisis provided a window of opportunity for ECOWAS member states to redouble efforts to effectively implement the ECOWAS Common Agricultural Policy and Regional Strategy for short, medium and long-term food security. They also reviewed the performance of the West African economy, noting the improved macroeconomic management as well as reformed governance practices in member states.

The ECOWAS Heads of State have meanwhile expressed concern over the slow pace in attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), particularly in light of the persistent rise in the price of crude oil, petroleum products and food. The sharp increases, the leaders noted, have had adverse budgetary implications on the economies of most member states. The ECOWAS Heads of State further stressed the importance of regional infrastructure for the scaling up of economic development and integration processes. Presidents Laurent Gbagbo, of Cote d’Ivoire, and Joao Bernardo Vieira, of Guinea Bissau, have been designated to coordinate the efforts of the ECOWAS Commission in the development of a regional infrastructure, transport and energy framework.

On the economic front, the ECOWAS Heads of State urged member states to effectively implement the protocol on free movement of persons and goods as well as the right of residence and establishment, while ensuring the harmonization of the ECOWAS passport and guaranteeing equal treatment of refugees and other ECOWAS citizens. The Heads of State also noted the pending elections scheduled to be held later this year in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leone and urged all stakeholders in these ECOWAS member states to ensure the conduct of credible, transparent, free and fair elections.

President Sirleaf and entourage returned home Monday night at the end of the ECOWAS Heads of State Summit.   The President leaves the country Tuesday to participate in the Liberia Poverty Reduction Forum (LPRF) scheduled to convene in Berlin, Germany from June 25-28.