47th Ordinary Session, ECOWAS Speech by President Jonathan

Pres. Jonathan pictured with President Gnassingbe & President Mahama at 47th ECOWAS Summit, Accra, today May 19. President Macky Sall of Senegal is the new ECOWAS Chairman, he takes over from President Mahama of Ghana.          B Your Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama,
President of the Republic of Ghana, and Chairman of the
Authority of Heads of State and Government;
Your Excellencies, Brother Heads of State and Government;
Your Excellency, the President of the ECOWAS Commission;
Honourable Ministers;
ECOWAS Commissioners
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen;

Mr. Chairman,

      I must start this brief remarkby expressing my profound appreciation to you, the Government and People of Ghana for the warm reception accorded me and my delegation since our arrival here in Accra.  The traditionally warm hospitality that has been extended, inspires admiration of the brotherly people of Ghana.  It alsocertainly underscores the committed, forthright and exemplary leadership that you have personally offered our sub-region since assuming the Chairmanship of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.




2.    Similarly, may I also thank the President of the ECOWAS Commission for the earnest efforts that went into the convening ofthis 47th Ordinary Summit of ECOWAS.  It is no wonder that our Organisation continues to move from strength to strength in the face of both the strong leadership provided by our Chairman and the tireless work of theCommission under its President and staff.

3.    As we are all aware, this Summit coincides with the 40th Anniversary of the establishment of our Organisation.  I believe that this milestone calls for acknowledgement of the exceptional vision of the founding fathers which has inspired a united approach to addressing our common challenges. Unity of purpose and action has enabled us to buildour strength as we move forward to enhanced sub-regional cooperation and integration.  The significant progress we have made so far, can only be sustained and built upon through even closer consultations, collaboration and cohesion amongst us.
   
4.    With regard to our integration agenda, it must be said that we have achieved considerable progress.  We have gone beyond our Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and Goods, to the harmonisation of trade and our customs codes.  The achievement of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff and Trade Liberalisation Scheme, are vital sign posts in the Convergence Criteria required for our Common Currency regime.  In our resolve to further enhance trade and facilitate transportation, work is in progress on the construction of the Lagos-Abidjan Highway which will be complemented by the implementation of the Joint Border Posts Reconstruction Projects across our borders.  In the last few months,for instance, President Boni Yayi and I were able to lay the foundation stone of the Joint Border Post between our two countries at Seme border.

5.    My country, Nigeria,remains fully committed to the goal of an integrated and single West African community of nations and people.  We have, therefore, spared no efforts in ensuring the early detection of conflict and in taking necessary measures for its elimination in our sub-region.  We do so on the strong conviction that without peace, there will be no development; and that our peoples cannot be weaned out of poverty and deprivation without development.

6.    I have profound satisfaction and pride, especially when I see the remarkable progress that we have achieved together for our sub-region.  Our exertions in the quest for solutions to the political and security challenges that occasionally threaten the peace and stability of our nations is the hallmark of our common resolve to achieve our integration agenda.   Indeed, our outstanding record on this score remains a model for all of Africa’s other sub-regional Organisations.
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