Abuja: The ECOWAS Commission hosted a formal welcome and send-off ceremony for the incoming and outgoing statutory appointees and Heads of ECOWAS Institutions, marking the completion of the outgoing leadership’s four-year tenure. During the event, His Excellency, General Birame Diop of Senegal officially assumed office as the new President of the ECOWAS Commission, succeeding H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray of The Gambia. H.E. Mr. Anthony Ogunjimi of Nigeria also succeeded H.E. Mrs. Damtien Tchintchibidja of Togo as Vice President.
According to African Press Organization, the ceremony was held at the Commission’s new headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria. It featured the unveiling of the ECOWAS@50 Special Exclusive Publication by the Africa Agenda Network in partnership with the ECOWAS Commission, a symbolic presentation of the Management Performance Compendium to the incoming President, and the signing of handover notes by the outgoing and incoming Presidents, Vice Presidents, and statutory appointees.
The incoming statutory appointees include Dr. Kalilou Sylla from C´te d’Ivoire as Commissioner for Internal Services, Mrs. Francess Piagie Alghali from Sierra Leone as Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mr. Dehpue Yenpea Zuo from Liberia as Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mr. Amin Amidu Sulemani from Ghana as Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, Prof. Nassirou Bako-Arifari from Benin as Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Ms. Carla Maria Borges Bettencourt from Cabo Verde as Auditor-General for ECOWAS Institutions, Dr. Palokinam Pitche from Togo as Director-General of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), and Mr. Mam Cherno Jallow as Director-General of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).
The outgoing statutory appointees are Dr. Habibu Bappah as Commissioner for Internal Services, Dr. Kalilou Sylla from Ivory Coast as Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr from Senegal as Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Mr. Joao Alage Mamadu Fadia from Guinea-Bissau as Auditor-General for ECOWAS Institutions, and Dr. Melchior Assi from Benin Republic at WAHO. In his farewell address, the outgoing President, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and reflected on the achievements of his tenure, emphasizing the legacy of institutional and regional accomplishments.
In his inaugural address, the new President, H.E. Retired General Birame Diop, called for unity, solidarity, and mutual respect as the foundation for advancing regional integration and enhancing the effectiveness of the ECOWAS Commission. He urged all stakeholders to collaborate in building a united, cohesive, and efficient institution capable of addressing the aspirations and challenges of the West African region.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, emphasized the importance of effective implementation of regional programs and the need to deliver tangible, measurable, and lasting results. He highlighted that ECOWAS must remain focused on initiatives that improve the lives of Community citizens, strengthen regional integration, and contribute to peace, security, and sustainable development across West Africa.
Ambassador Enikanolaiye reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to ECOWAS and its regional cooperation efforts, noting that the Community’s effectiveness will ultimately be measured by its ability to translate policies and collective commitments into concrete improvements for the people of West Africa. As ECOWAS enters a new phase under its new leadership, the call is clear: regional integration must lead to measurable results, reinforcing confidence in the regional project and fulfilling its promise of a more connected and prosperous West Africa.