The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Saturday dusted up its plan to launch a single currency for member nations. The union agreed on a new road map to launch Eco in 2027, six years away. The previous plan was truncated by the coronavirus pandemic. The president of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, informed reporters in Accra at the end of a summit of the leaders that the new road map and a new convergence pact would “cover the period between 2022-2026, and 2027 being the launch of the ECO.” Member countries are banking on the single currency to go a long way in boosting trade and economic growth.
Also, the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government have vowed to join other members of the global community to achieve a reformed and rights-balanced United Nations. Chairman of the ECOWAS’s Authority of Heads of State and Government and President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, made the vow yesterday in his opening speech during the 59th Ordinary Session of the regional body in Accra, Ghana.
President Akufo-Addo noted with delight the planned UN reforms, as he stated the need for balancing of the membership of UN Security Council in order to have African representatives on the council as permanent members. “Africa’s common position on UN reforms, based on the Ezulwini Consensus, is one matter we will work hard to add on the global agenda, to solicit the backing of countries around the world for this long-needed reform.
“We believe it is time to correct the long-standing injustice that the current structure and composition of the UN Security Council represents for the nations of Africa,” the ECOWAS Chairman said. He, however, used the occasion to thank all African countries for supporting the candidacy and election of Ghana into the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member.
He also lamented the continuous threats of terrorism, violent extremism and COVID-19 among others, to the development of African continent. President Akufo-Addo also assured that the ECOWAS’s Authority of Heads of State and Government would continue to sustain democracy within the region, through the conduct of successful elections.
