By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo is to serve a second one-year term as Chairperson of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.
A Communique at the end of an ECOWAS Extra-ordinary Summit held virtually on Tuesday 2nd February, also endorsed Nigeria’s candidate for the position of African Union Commision’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security.
President Akufo-Addo was elected ECOWAS rotational Chair last September for an initial one-year term.
The Communique said the tenure extension is to enable him oversee implemention of ongoing institutional reforms.
The four-year one-off tenure of current ECOWAS statutory appointees, including the President, vice President and nine Commissioners, ends in February 2022.
The Communique said ECOWAS’ next regular Summit in June would consider a report on the institutional reforms.
But it is unclear if the agenda would take on board the demand by Nigeria and civil society organizations for a slimmer management structure. This would cut operating costs and eliminate wastage in the regional economic bloc, especially given its dwindling financial resources and the effects of the deadly health pandemic.
