Gambia’s Omar Touray on Wednesday in Abuja assumed office as the new President of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Commission alongside new statutory appointees of the Commission.
Touray is expected to head the Commission alongside the new management for a four-year term between 2022 and 2026.
In his inaugural remarks,Touray pledged to build on the legacies and successes of the outgoing President, Jean-Claude Brou by ensuring a more sustainable and secured West African sub-region.
He also harped on the need for institutional reforms, payment of community levies by ECOWAS Member states and the collaboration of citizens to address the challenges confronting the region.
He also called for the collaboration and partnership of ECOWAS institutions and governments to lift citizens out of abject poverty.
Touray thanked the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of States and Government for unanimously endorsing his candidature as the President of the Commission and the government of the Gambia for his nomination.
“Reforms entails trust, entails taking top positions but we are confident that with the full support and collaboration of staff and Member States, we will be able to take the process to its logical conclusion,” Touray said.
Touray thanked the Nigerian government for being a generous host to ECOWAS institutions and for also providing leadership to ECOWAS’s integration and peaceful efforts.
Also read: Guinea Bissau President takes over as ECOWAS new Chairman after surviving coup attempt
Brou in his valedictory remarks said that the region under his leadership experienced a deepened and strengthened democratic culture despite the unconstitutional change of government in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso.
He however bemoaned the spate of terrorists attacks and insecurity in Member states which he said has resulted in over fourteen thousand deaths with over five million ECOWAS citizens in need of humanitarian assistance.
Brou urged community citizens to remain united and extend their support to the incoming management,
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affair, Zubairu Dada also commended Brou and the outgoing management of the ECOWAS Commission for a job well done amid the challenges.
Dada also urged Touray and his new team to put the interest of the region ahead of other interest while dispensing their duties.
He also tasked them to carry out internal and external reforms, and meet the African Union and United Nations agendas for ECOWAS.
Touray alongside the new management of the Commission were named at the just concluded 61 Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and government on July 3 in Accra, Ghana.
Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe
