The ECOWAS commission says it is finalizing Practical arrangements for the launch of the ECO currency.
The Chief of Staff to the President of ECOWAS commission Mr. Abdou Kolley stated this in Abuja during a high-level interactive meeting between the commission and Heads of Government-owned broadcast stations within member states.
He explained the plan included the procedure for the selection of candidate countries for the Monetary Union, institutional arrangements and Supplementary Act.
He said ECOWAS Commission recognized the media as critical stakeholders and purveyors of information.
Mr Kolley said they were aware of the important role of the media in creating and maintaining goodwill and mutual understanding between the Commission and its people.
“The Commission has convened the stakeholders’ meeting with the Heads of government-owned broadcast stations as part of our ongoing efforts to proactively broaden our engagement and strengthen our collaboration with the media towards achieving our common and shared vision as encapsulated by our vision 2050, this on the eve of the celebration of 50 years of existence of our institution.
On the achievements of ECOWAS in various sectors, the Chief of Staff to the President of ECOWAS commission explained that despite the challenges, that West Africa is facing escalating humanitarian challenges, driven by conflicts and insecurity in the Central Sahel.
He said “According to UNHCR, the region had witnessed a significant influx of refugees from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, with approximately 87,000 seeking refuge in the northern regions of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo. Concurrently, the food security situation has sharply deteriorated, with projections indicating a rise from 208,000 food-insecure individuals in year 2020 to over 3.9 million by mid-2024.
The theme of the two-day event is “Strategic engagement with public media actors in member states to strengthen collaboration and positive coverage of ECOWAS programmes and to combat disinformation in West Africa’’
He explained that the theme was not only apt but also resonates with the commission’s commitment towards consolidating our already existing cordial and mutually beneficially relationship with the state media across the West African region.
