A new leadership team has formally taken charge at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), with H.E. General Birame Diop of Senegal assuming office as President of the ECOWAS Commission.
General Diop took over from H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray of The Gambia at a formal welcome and send-off ceremony held at the ECOWAS Commission’s new headquarters in Abuja, following the expiration of the outgoing leadership’s four-year tenure.
The ceremony also witnessed the assumption of office by H.E. Mr. Anthony Ogunjimi of Nigeria as Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission, succeeding H.E. Mrs. Damtien Tchintchibidja of Togo.
The transition featured the signing of handover notes by outgoing and incoming Presidents, Vice-Presidents and statutory appointees, as well as the symbolic presentation of the Management Performance Compendium to the new Commission President.
Also unveiled at the event was the ECOWAS@50 Special Exclusive Publication, produced by Africa Agenda Network in partnership with the ECOWAS Commission.
Other incoming statutory appointees include Dr. Kalilou Sylla of Côte d’Ivoire as Commissioner for Internal Services; Mrs. Francess Alghali of Sierra Leone as Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; and Mr. Dehpue Yenpea Zuo of Liberia as Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture.
Others are Mr. Amin Amidu Sulemani of Ghana, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation; Prof. Nassirou Bako-Arifari of Benin, Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs; and Ms. Carla Maria Borges Bettencourt of Cabo Verde, Auditor-General for ECOWAS Institutions.
The new leadership also includes Dr. Palokinam Pitche of Togo as Director-General of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) and Mr. Mam Cherno Jallow as Director-General of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).
In his farewell address, Touray expressed appreciation for the opportunity to lead the regional body and reflected on the achievements recorded during his four-year tenure.
He said the outgoing leadership was leaving behind a record of institutional and regional accomplishments.
General Diop, in his inaugural address, called for greater unity, solidarity and mutual respect among ECOWAS member states, staff and stakeholders.
He said the future of regional integration would depend largely on the collective commitment of the ECOWAS Community to remain united and work towards common goals.
“My solemn appeal to all of you is to make way for unity and solidarity, based on mutual respect,” General Diop said.
He urged the ECOWAS leadership and staff to build a cohesive and efficient institution capable of addressing the evolving challenges facing West Africa.
“A new chapter has been opened for West African integration. Let us work together to make it a chapter of peace, dignity and shared prosperity,” he declared.
The leadership transition signals the beginning of a new chapter for the regional bloc as it continues to pursue deeper integration, peace, security, economic development and shared prosperity across West Africa.