Others are the transformation of Vision 2020 and the improvement in financial stability as guided by the ECOWAS Mechanism and other Protocols.
She called on ECOWAS Member States to work hard to stem terrorism, strengthen intelligence capacity and enhance coordination with the African Union, United Nations and other partner institutions.
The Liberian leader made the statement after her election on ‘white ballot’ by her colleagues at the 49th Ordinary Session of the Summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government in the Senegalese capital Dakar to head the organization.
According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf’s election as Chairperson of the regional body comes on the heels of multifaceted challenges facing the organization, ranging from terrorism, global economic meltdown, coupled with the recent Ebola outbreak.
In her acceptance speech, she described her selection as an indication of the progress and peace Liberia enjoys, which would not have been possible without the tremendous sacrifices and solidarity of the brothers and sisters of ECOWAS.
She commended her Senegalese counterpart, President Macky Sall, whose
‘extraordinary leadership’ guided the work of the organization in the past year, and paid tribute to Dr. Kadre Désiré Ouadraogo for the able manner in which he managed the affairs of the Community as President of the ECOWAS Commission, and congratulated his successor, Marcel Alain de Souza and team as they assume their responsibilities.
She historicized the 48th Summit of the Authority held in Abuja, marking the 40th Anniversary of ECOWAS, noting the achievement during the last four decades across all sectors, including harmonization of macroeconomic policies, trade integration, regional infrastructure, peace and security, regional institution development, democracy and rule of law.
The Liberian leader said: “As we move towards the achievement of such lofty goal, we are reminded that our Community faces both challenges and opportunities such as the sharp reduction in commodity prices and the effect of epidemiological outbreaks that have resulted in a decline in investment and growth.
“Beyond financial difficulties, growth is affected by terrorism, drug and human trafficking, piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and the impact of climate change,” she added.
President Sirleaf said it was important to take pride in the high potential of the ECOWAS Community for a vibrant integrated market which is currently estimated to be equivalent to US$1.3 trillion produced by a wide range of activities in agriculture, commerce, industry and services.
She extended sympathy to citizens of the Community victimized by the disastrous attacks, adding, “We must ensure that there will be no expansion of terrorism in our sub-region, as recently experienced in Burkina Faso, Mali and Cote d’Ivoire and last night in Niger.”
She added: “We must also, through collective and determined efforts, ensure that Boko Haram is totally defeated.”
President Sirleaf called for the conclusion of negotiations and legal actions to enhance trade integration, but warned that failure to close the negotiations could lead to differentiation among Member States.
She called upon the remaining countries, which have not ratified and commence the enforcement of the Common External Tariff (CET) thereby deepening the potential for trade and productive integration in the Community to do so.
The new ECOWAS Chairperson spoke of the ardent need to achieve transformation of Vision 2020 through agriculture and infrastructure, adding, “the impressive success of several of our countries in value addition in agriculture can be expanded and our trade integration enhanced through acceleration of the several ongoing regional projects in roads, energy, and railroads.”
She said during her tenure, the imperative will be to holistically improve financial stability through existing protocols and mechanism, which call for financing the Community through contributions of the Community levy by Member States in order to meet the operational costs of its institutions and respond to security emergencies such as those faced by the peacekeeping troops in Mali and Guinea Bissau.
She observed: that “recent financial difficulties imposed by global conditions have affected our ability to meet commitments despite tremendous efforts but, however, “I join my colleagues in commending His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari for the relief brought by his recent expressed commitment to continue Nigeria’s support to the community levy,” stressing, “Yet, we can do more.”
She pointed out that there is space for cost saving through continued rationalization and reduction in the multiple activities and high benefits of community institutions for which she commended President de Souza for the important steps he has so far taken to achieve this objective.
“We also must institute A Call to Action to finalize the ongoing review of the restructuring of Community institutions,” she underscored.
LINA PR/TSS/PTK