ECOWAS Summit Convenes Monday with Eye on West African Economy

Monrovia - Heads of State and Government of member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), meet in the Nigerian Federal capital, Abuja, Monday, for the 34th Ordinary Session of the sub-regional economic grouping.

The frontpageafrica.com online magazine reports that the one day summit which begins Monday, will, among other issues, review the performance of West African economy and the progress toward the work of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in view of the persistent rise in the price of oil and its adverse budgetary implications on most member countries of the region. The ECOWAS Heads of State and Government will also review security in the sub-region, with the aim of developing strategies for the consolidation of regional stability.

ECOWAS leaders will also use the Abuja summit to discuss the upcoming African Union bi-annual summit in Cairo with the view of adopting a unified approach to issues which may arise during the summit.

According to an Executive Mansion release, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will be among other West African leaders attending Monday’s summit. The President, who left the country Sunday afternoon, returns later on Monday following the summit before departing Tuesday, June 24th, to participate in the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) Forum, scheduled to take place in Berlin, Germany beginning June 25-28. The President and party will proceed to Cairo, Egypt, immediately thereafter, for the bi-annual Summit of the African Union, to be convened in that North African country later this month.

During President Sirleaf’s absence from the country, the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Ambulai Johnson will coordinate the affairs of government as Chairman of the Cabinet, in consultation with the Vice President, Dr. Joseph Boakai.