By: James Kamara-Manneh
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, has used his final address to the ECOWAS Council of Ministers to reflect on the bloc’s achievements over the past four years while urging member states to remain committed to regional integration amid growing political, security and economic challenges.
Speaking Thursday at the opening of the 96th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Freetown, Dr. Touray described the meeting as a significant milestone, noting that it was the last Ordinary Session he would address before the end of his tenure as President of the ECOWAS Commission.
He thanked the Government and people of Sierra Leone, led by President Julius Maada Bio, for hosting the statutory meeting and commended Sierra Leone’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Alhaji Musa Timothy Kabba, for his leadership as Chair of the Council of Ministers over the past year.
Reflecting on his four-year mandate, Dr. Touray said ECOWAS had weathered one of the most difficult periods in its history, marked by political transitions, worsening insecurity, economic uncertainty and the withdrawal of three member states from the regional bloc.
Despite those setbacks, he said the Commission remained focused on implementing decisions of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, preserving institutional stability, maintaining dialogue and ensuring continuity of Community programmes.
Dr. Touray highlighted several milestones achieved during his tenure, including the operationalisation of the Permanent Representatives Committee as an advisory body to the Council, the commissioning of the Mfum-Ekok Bridge and Joint Border Post linking ECOWAS and ECCAS, the launch of the ECOWAS Business Council chaired by Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, and the completion of the Commission’s new headquarters in Abuja.
He said the achievements demonstrated the Community’s determination to strengthen regional institutions and improve service delivery to the people of West Africa.
Turning to the Council’s agenda, Dr. Touray said ministers would deliberate on the 2026 Interim Report on the State of the Community, review the bloc’s financial position, assess the implementation of previous decisions and consider reports from several statutory committees, including those responsible for administration, finance, auditing and judicial affairs.
The Council is also expected to examine policy initiatives on digital transformation, investment promotion, agriculture, trade, telecommunications, science and innovation, cultural cooperation, gender equality and relations between ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Dr. Touray said the recommendations adopted by ministers would form the basis of decisions to be taken by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
In his farewell remarks, he expressed appreciation to the Heads of State, the Council of Ministers, ECOWAS institutions, development partners and Commission staff for their support throughout his tenure.
He maintained that the progress made by ECOWAS was the product of collective leadership and reaffirmed his confidence in the regional bloc’s ability to overcome future challenges.
“I leave office with confidence in the future of our community,” Dr. Touray said, expressing optimism that ECOWAS would continue to promote peace, security, economic integration and sustainable development across West Africa.
The 96th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers is expected to conclude with recommendations that will be presented to the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government for consideration.
