Report by Edward FRIMPONG
On the 3rd July 2022, Ghana will host the 61st Ordinary Session of the Authority of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Governments in Accra at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and chair of the Authority of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government will host colleagues of Heads of State and Government from twelve (12) ECOWAS Member State in the region.
The summit will mark the end of the second year stewardship of his Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, president of the republic as chair of the ECOWAS authority of Heads of State and Government.
It would be recalled that his Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo assumed the chairmanship of ECOWAS on 7th September, 2022 in Niamey, Niger after H.E Mahamadou Issoufou, former President of the republic of Niger, ended his stewardship.
In June 2021, the mandate of H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was renewed by his peers for another one year based on his Sterling leadership and to complete ongoing institutional reforms geared towards the reduction of the member of statutory appointees of the ECOWAS commission from Fifteen (15) to seven (7) as well as streamline operational cost.
Among many others, the summit would be dedicated to examining and taking decisions on the political, security and humanitarian situations in the region.
Most notably, the summit shall review the current state of affairs in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso, who have been suspended from the organization, following the unconstitutional changes of Government in these three (3) countries.
Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and chair of the ECOWAS council of ministers hosted her colleagues Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence and Security for the Meditation and Security Council meetings in Accra on 29th June, 2022 at the Movenpink Ambassador Hotel.
The Mediation and Security Council meeting shall provide updates on the political developments in the region, especially in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso, as well as in the Sahel region.
They would also provide updates on the overall climate of insecurity, challenges relating to youth unemployment and the impact of diseases and pandemics on social tensions in the region.
Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey will also host her colleagues and Finance Ministers on Thursday, 30th June 2022, and Friday, 1st July 2022 respectively in the ECOWAS council of ministers meeting to, among others, make recommendations on the finance, administration as well as the programs and activities of the ECOWAS institutions to the authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government for adoption.
