𝐒𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞’𝐬 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐬 𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐖𝐀𝐒–𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐒𝐎𝐂𝐂 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐫𝐚.
𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐖 𝟏𝟓𝐭𝐡-𝟑-𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
In her opening remarks, Minister Karminty welcomed delegates and officials from the ECOWAS Commission, describing the gathering as a significant step toward deepening citizen participation in regional governance. She conveyed greetings from Sierra Leone’s President, His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, who currently serves as Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Highlighting the challenges facing the region, Minister Karminty emphasized the importance of ECOWAS adapting to meet citizen expectations. She said, “It is precisely in such moments that ECOWAS must demonstrate its capacity to adapt and strengthen the relationship between regional governance and the citizens we serve.”
She further noted that operationalizing ECOSOCC would create a platform for civil society, private sector actors, youth and women’s groups, and other stakeholders to engage meaningfully in regional integration. “By actively participating in ECOWAS decision-making, these groups can contribute to shaping policies that directly affect their communities,” she stated.
Minister Karminty also stressed the broader objectives of the initiative, noting that it “aligns closely with the pursuit of democratic governance, inclusivity, and social cohesion across our region.” She urged all member states to fully commit to mthe effective implementation of ECOSOCC, describing it as critical to ensuring that the region’s development is citizen-driven and sustainable.
The meeting focused on adopting the rationale, structure, mandate, and membership framework of ECOSOCC, as well as reviewing draft legal instruments for its full implementation. Delegates endorsed a three-year work programme and action plan, along with an indicative budget to support the council’s activities. They also reviewed a roadmap to guide the interim General Assembly and ensure civil society plays a stronger role in regional policy and development.
As Chair of the sector ministers who validated the recommendations of the expert group, Minister Karminty will present the conclusions of the Validation Meeting to the ECOWAS Council of Ministers in the coming weeks, having already signed the outcome document on behalf of the member states.
In his closing remarks, Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, commended Minister Karminty for her leadership, describing the meeting as a milestone in enhancing citizen participation in regional decision-making. He also expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama, the government, and the people of Ghana for hosting the meeting.
Representatives from #Benin, #Côted’Ivoire, #TheGambia, #Nigeria, #Senegal, #SierraLeone, and #Togo attended in person or via designated representatives. The deliberations aimed to strengthen ECOWAS institutions and enhance civil society’s role in achieving the region’s long-term development goals, including the ECOWAS Vision 2050.
𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐢𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭:
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭
+𝟐𝟑𝟐 𝟕𝟐 𝟓𝟑𝟕 𝟎𝟑𝟓 | 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦.𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫.𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐰@𝐦𝐨𝐢𝐜.𝐠𝐨𝐯.𝐬𝐥