Ghana’s President gets second term as ECOWAS chair

February 2, 2021

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo is to serve a second one-year term as Chair of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.

A Communiqué at the end of an ECOWAS Extra-ordinary Summit held virtually on Tuesday February 2, 2021 also endorsed Nigeria’s candidate for the position of African Union Commission’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security.

President Akufo-Addo was elected ECOWAS rotational Chair last year of September for an initial one-year term.

The Communiqué said the tenure extension is to enable him oversee implementation of ongoing institutional reforms.

The four-year one-off tenure of current ECOWAS statutory appointees, including the President, vice President and nine Commissioners, ends in February 2022.

The Communiqué said ECOWAS’ next regular Summit in June would consider a report on the institutional reforms.

But it is unclear if the agenda would take on board the demand by Nigeria and civil society organizations for a slimmer management structure.

This would cut operating costs and eliminate wastage in the regional economic bloc, especially given its dwindling financial resources and the effects of the deadly health pandemic.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com