The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, is calling on members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to come together and help eradicate terrorism in Africa.
Madam Ayorkor made these pronouncements at the opening of the 48th Ordinary Ministerial Session of the Mediation and Security Council of ECOWAS in Accra on Wednesday.
Addressing the gathering, Madam Ayorkor Botchwey said "We need to committ to mobilise the requisite resources to support the implementation of the ECOWAS 2020-2024 action to eradicate terrorism in the region"
She reminded the house that African countries such as Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and Nigeria are tye current hot zones to recurrent terrorist attacks and violent extremesms.
Madam Botchwey, on insecurities in neighboring countries, cited Benin and Ghana as the red zones.
"These attacks poses socio-political, security and humanitarian challenges and hamper the commissions effort to improve the living standards of its members hence my appeal for members to mobilise more resources"
"I commenserate with families of people who fell prey to recent attacks in some member states including Nigeria"
"I am reiterating the Commission's strong condemnation to the attacks and pledge solidarity to ending the menace"
The Summit was attended by Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defense and Security of the various member states and other international organizations was used to brief members on the report of the Draft Supplementary Act on the Revision of the 2001 ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
"The purpose for the revising the protocol emanated from the directive of the authority of heads of states and government at its extraordinary summit of 16th September, 2021 in response to developments in the region"
"The other reason is to reaffirm that the consolidation of democracy and good governance is crucial for the development of peace and stability of the region"
The Summit was used to review the memoranda on political and security situations in the region as well as the review of the Draft Supplementary Act on the Transfer of Persons Suspected of Piracy.
Participants also received update on the status of the implementation of the ECOWAS Early Warning Centers in members states as well as an update on humanitarian situations in the region.
Participants also deliberated on the Draft Supplementary Act relating to the Amendment of the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
The Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister appealed to the participants to make recommendations that would help resolve terrorism and insecurities in the region because the issue require urgent attention and responses.
Touching on mediation processes to return countries such as Mali and Guniea to democratic rule, the Minister said that efforts of mediators must be well supported in order to sustain the mediation.
"Although some progress are being made to return these countries back to democratic rule, a lot still remains to be done so let support the mediators to work."
President of ECOWAS, Mr Jean-Claude Kassi Brou also expressed hope that members would be able to reach a clear concensus on the various reviews that would take place at the summit.
Below are some pictures:
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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