(ECOWAS. Photo Credit: Vanguard News)
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has approved the appointment of new persons to fill its strategic statutory positions and specialised institutions from 2026 to 2030.
This is contained in a communique issued on Tuesday at the end of the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Lungi, Sierra Leone.
The new appointments include five commissioners for the ECOWAS Commission, five judges for the ECOWAS Court of Justice, an Auditor-General of ECOWAS institutions, and a Director-General of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO).
According to the communique, the Authority endorsed the recommendations from the Ninety-Sixth Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers relating to statutory appointments to positions in Community Institutions for the 2026–2030 period.
The new judges of the ECOWAS Court are Awa Bah (The Gambia), Charlyne Brumskine (Liberia), Désiré Aihou (Benin), Henrietta Didigu (Nigeria), and the current Chief Registrar of the ECOWAS Court, Yaouza Ouro-Sama (Togo).
The regional leaders also approved the appointment of five new commissioners to replace outgoing commissioners at the ECOWAS Commission, whose respective tenures are set to expire soon.
The new commissioners are Mrs Francess Alghali (Sierra Leone), Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Mr Dehpue Zuo (Liberia), Economic Affairs and Agriculture; Dr Kalilou Sylla (Ivory Coast), Internal Services; Mr Amin Suleiman (Ghana), Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation; and Prof. Nassirou Bako-Arifari (Benin), Human Development and Social Affairs.
Also appointed were Ms Carla Bettencourt (Cape Verde) as Auditor-General for ECOWAS Institutions, Dr Palokinam Pitche (Togo) as Director-General of the West African Health Organization, and Mr Mam Jallow (The Gambia) as Director-General of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa.
The communique disclosed that the Authority granted Nigeria’s request for an additional two weeks to review and resolve the ECOWAS vice-president position allocated to the country.
While expressing profound appreciation to the outgoing President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, for his distinguished service to the community, the Authority welcomed his successor, Gen. Birame Diop of Senegal, stating that it expressed confidence in the incoming president’s extensive diplomatic, military and strategic expertise to provide strategic leadership in deepening regional integration and addressing regional challenges.
The summit was chaired by Dr Julius Bio, President of Sierra Leone and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
It was attended by Presidents Romuald Wadagni (Benin), José Neves (Cape Verde), Adama Barrow (The Gambia), John Mahama (Ghana), Joseph Boakai (Liberia), and Bassirou Faye (Senegal).
Others in attendance included Tiémoko Koné, Vice President of Côte d’Ivoire; Kashim Shettima, Vice President of Nigeria; Gen. Mamady Doumbouya (Guinea); Robert Dussey, Togolese Foreign Affairs Minister; and Mohamed Ghazouani, President of Mauritania.
Distinguished dignitaries also included Dr Omar Touray, ECOWAS President; Ms Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General; Dr Lansana Kouyaté, ECOWAS Chief Negotiator; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the ECOWAS Business Council; and Dr Abdul Kamara, representing the AfDB.
The list also included Amb. Baba Kamara, ECOWAS Special Envoy on Counterterrorism; Musa Sillah, Chairman of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme Taskforce; and Mr Mahamadou Gado, representing the President of the UEMOA Commission.