By: Lamin B. Darboe
A press release from the Directorate of Communication at ECOWAS Commission in Abuja, Nigeria, has confirmed that The Gambia’s Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, has assumed his position as the new President of the ECOWAS Commission for a four-year tenure. He takes over from Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, an Ivorian, who mounted the helm of the affairs of the Commission in 2018.
Dr. Omar Alieu Touray
Other statutory management appointees inaugurated include Damtien L. Tchintchibidja,
Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission; Prof. Nazifi Abdullahi Darma, Commissioner for Internal Services; Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security; Mme Massandjé Toure-Litse, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture; Mr. Sédiko Douka, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation; and João Alage Mamadu Fadiá, Auditor-General.
At an event held at the main Auditorium of the ECOWAS Commission headquarters, H.E Dr. Omar Alieu Touray expressed his appreciation to the President and the Government of the Republic of The Gambia for proposing his candidature and the heads of State and Government of the Community for the unanimous endorsement and confirmation of his appointment.
He also thanked the outgoing President of the Commission, H.E Dr. Jean-Claude Kassi Brou and his team for their stewardship over the past four and a half years. While enumerating the security and economic challenges occasioned by the COVID-19, he promised to tackle these challenges head on and deliver on his mandate. He enjoined Member States to ensure full payment of their community levies and the full implementation of ECOWAS protocols.
Paying special tribute to the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Touray thanked His Excellency Ambassador Dada, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and President Buhari for being generous host to the Commission and other institutions of ECOWAS and for taking the lead in peacebuilding and integration efforts.
In his remarks earlier, the outgoing President H. E Jean-Claude Kassi Brou thanked the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H. E Muhammadu Buhari for his unflinching support to ECOWAS institutions and warmly welcomed Dr. Omar Alieu Touray and all incoming statutory appointees for their nomination as leaders of ECOWAS institutions for the 2022-2026 period.
He used the opportunity of the handing over ceremony to highlight the achievements of the 2018-2022 management particularly in the areas of promotion of security, peace building and combating COVID-19 pandemic.
He praised Member States for their resolute efforts and courageous stand to confront terrorism and banditry in the region which resulted in the development of the action plan.
On the political front, President H. E Jean-Claude Kassi Brou noted that the deepening of democratic culture was improved upon with eleven countries peacefully conducting presidential and legislative elections during his tenure. He said the free movement of persons and goods was strengthened through the adoption of ECOWAS Biometric Identity Card which is being implemented in five countries, while listing progress made in agricultural production systems and regional infrastructure development.
He commended all staff of all ECOWAS institutions for their hard work and dedication during his tenure and encouraged them to extend same to the incoming management.
The outgoing President thanked partners both bilateral and multilateral for their support and assistance.
In his address, H.E. Amb. Zubairu Dada, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria commended the outgoing management led by H.E. Jean-Claude Kassi Brou for the wonderful achievements recorded in the region during their tenure. He congratulated the new President H.E. Omar Alieu Touray and other statutory appointees and assured them of Nigeria’s support.