The Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS), has
commended President Akufo-Addo and his colleague Head of State of
Guinea, President Alpha Condé, for their joint mediation efforts in the
Republic of Togo aimed at resolving the political tension between the
Togolese government and opposition parties.

Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, in his welcome address,
at the opening ceremony of the 54th Ordinary Session of the Authority of
Heads of State and Government at the Hilton Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria,
expressed the gratitude of the Community to the two leaders for
championing the search for political stability and security in Togo.

“I wish at this juncture, to pay special tribute to His Excellency,
Nana Akuffo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana and His Excellency,
Alpha Conde, President of the Republic of Guinea, the ECOWAS
facilitators in the resolution of the Togolese political crisis, for
their tireless endeavours towards a peaceful settlement,” Muhammadu
Buhari said.

He also expressed excitement at the significant progress made through
the collective efforts towards the resolution of the political and
institutional crisis in Guinea Bissau. “Within the framework of our
regional solidarity, we have assisted the governments of Togo and Mali
in tackling political and security problems while also addressing food
challenges in parts of the sub-region,” the Chair of ECOWAS stated.

Special Representative UNOWAS

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United
Nations (UN), António Guterres, and Head of the UN Office for West
Africa and the Sahel, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, in his remark, said more
effort need’s to be invested into addressing contentious issues related
to the conduct of elections in West Africa in order to arrest and
prevent election related violence, human rights abuses and to promote
respect for the rule of law.

“Upcoming elections in the sub-region will present opportunities for
further consolidating democracy. UNOWAS is coordinating efforts with
ECOWAS Commission to ensure appropriate support to these countries in
their efforts to organize free, credible and peaceful elections” Dr.
Chambas said.

The Kingdom of Morocco

The request by the Kingdom of Morocco to be made part of the ECOWAS
was not on the agenda of the 54th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS
Authority of Heads of State and Government. Morocco requested at the
51st Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States in
Monrovia, Liberia on June 4, 2017, to be made a member of the West
African Sub-Regional body. The 51st Ordinary Session agreed, in
principle, to Morocco’s membership to the West African sub-regional body
and directed the Commission to consider the implications of the
country’s membership. However, the expectation that the ECOWAS leaders
will give the Moroccan Application any consideration at the 54th
Ordinary Session did not happen, leaving the status of the request
unclear.

The Agenda

The 54th Ordinary Session however considered the reports on proposed
ECOWAS Single Currency, the political situation in Guinea Bissau and
Togo. According to the draft agenda of the Session, the ECOWAS leaders
would also sign community acts and decisions and read to the ECOWAS, the
political declaration and common position on the return of cultural
artefacts to Africa. The Authority of Heads of State would also consider
the Annual Report of ECOWAS, reports of the 41st Ordinary Meeting of
the Mediation and Security Council and the 81st Session of the ECOWAS
Council of Ministers.