The regulations were enacted in Abuja in December 2015, mandating the establishment of an Early Warning System in member states of ECOWAS.

“We are all aware of the threats we face on account of terrorism and youth unemployment,” the Vice President said, adding “It is with much pleasure and great sense of duty that I am with you today to entreat you to take the right course as you kick off the performance of your task.”

Vice President Boakai made the call Tuesday when he convened the maiden meeting of the Task Force of the Statutory Board of the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Coordinating Center in the Monrovia suburb of Sinkor.

He pointed out: “We are all aware of the critical importance of peace and stability in this country and it is this statutory Board that will serve as a fulcrum for the Center,” a release from the Office of the Vice President said.

According to the Vice President, he called the meeting to focus on the definition of timelines for the implementation of the project, propose a draft legal backing for the center at the national level, and define salaries, among others.

He informed the meeting that his office will work with the task force to plot out a working roadmap on areas that need urgent attention and that he has no doubt that in the performance of this duty the Task Force will be ‘methodical, focused and alert’ bearing in mind that “we do this for the peace and security of the nation,” the release pointed out.

Earlier, the Special Representative of the President of ECOWAS to Liberia, Ambassador Tunde Ajisomo, said ECOWAS was fulfilling the dreams of the forefathers of the region, and cited the Monrovia Declaration of the Heads of State and Government and the July 14, 2014 as the time the concept of an early warning system was adopted by Heads of State and Governments.

He referred to Vice President Boakai as a leader who is committed to the integration of the ECOWAS region and informed the Task Force that VP Boakai had been present at all of the meetings called to establish the Early Warning System in the ECOWAS region.

He said Liberia has fast-tracked the project and signed the legal framework for the establishment of the Early Warning System in the region, the release concluded
LINA PR/TSS/PTK