The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reduced the numbers of its Commissioners to seven from fifteen as part its internal reforms to streamline its activities.
The President, ECOWAS Jean Claude Kassi Brou, disclosed this while presenting the State of the Community Report to the ECOWAS Parliament at the ongoing 2022 ordinary session in Abuja.
He said interviews of the new commissioners for five of the seven positions has already been completed as that of the remaining two will be done before the report is forwarded to the committee of ministers of the region for approval.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission who was making the presentation by virtue of Article 32 of the Supplementary Act enhancing the powers of Parliament which states: “At each Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament, the President of the Commission presents a general report on the state of implementation of the Community work program” expressed worries over the mirage of challenges facing the region.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission also spoke on the worrisome security situation in the region, the re-emergence of coup de tat and what is expected of the member states in order to continue to entrench democracy.
He however, identified some limiting factors in the region which include COVID-19 pandemic, terrorism, food insecurity among others.
The President of ECOWAS Commission, further noted that the region must remain vigilant in all fronts as $330 million Agriculture programme is on going to ensure resilience in the sector to address the challenges of food insecurity in the region as a result of the devastating effects of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian War on the global economy.
