The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Timothy Kabba and the Minister of Planning and Economic Development Kenyeh Barlay on Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd April attended the formal launch of the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and participated in the Extraordinary Council meeting of Ministers and Foreign Affairs in Accra, Ghana.
President of the ECOWAS Commission Dr. Omar Alieu Touray expressed gratitude to Ghana and the member states for the launch of the golden jubilee celebration in Accra, beginning of a series of activities that will take place in each ECOWAS member state.
He described the Jubilee Anniversary as not only a time to celebrate but also to reflect and calibrate, while extolling ECOWAS for being the most integrated regional community on the African continent.
The President of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, congratulated ECOWAS on coming this far with the restoration of peace and sanity through peacekeeping in some member states, infrastructural growth within the region, and the promotion of regional trade between member states.
He reaffirmed that the launch was not just a mere celebration but a solemn moment of reflection on the collective journey member states have endured to keep the peace and development of our community.
After the official launching of the 50th anniversary celebration, the Ministers’ council meeting commenced to discuss contingency plans and modalities on the withdrawal of the countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS.
In the council meeting, Minister Kabba reminded his colleagues of the imperative and moral responsibility on their shoulders to keep the community united and progressive as envisioned by the founding fathers.
He further noted that ECOWAS’ military intervention in SL in the 1990s is a clear testament to the community’s 50 years of collective responsibility for peace and security, stability, and development.
The Minister paid tribute to the troop contributors whose gallant soldiers died for the peace and security which Sierra Leone enjoys today, including soldiers of the Malian Army.
He further emphasized the importance of showing a human face to the numerous citizens of the AES countries who have been part of the community’s integration in the past 50 years, reminding the council that diplomatic avenues should be left opened bilaterally and multilaterally, to encourage the three countries to see reason to rejoin the most progressive.
Minister Kabba finally underscored Sierra Leone’s continued support for the community’s efforts of collective security, stability, and development.
