ECOWAS Heads’ Summit Endorses Regional Single Currency; as Nigeria Donates to Fight Ebola Virus

Posted by African Examiner African News, Latest Headlines, News Saturday, July 12th, 2014

The two – day Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leaders’ Summit in Accra, the Ghanaian capital, has approved some initiatives and number of recommendations, including Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), consideration of single currency, food security, infrastructural and manpower development in the sub region.

In the communique issued at the close of the 45th ordinary session of the regional body, the ECOWAS leaders endorsed EPA and due account of the related technical issues.

Consequently, the sub regional heads instructed the West African Chief Negotiator to take appropriate steps towards signing and implementation of the agreement.

The communique revealed that the summit validated recommendations on harmonization of criteria, the strengthening of the institutions and the revised road map relating to use of single currency in the sub-continent.

While commending the political development in the Guinea Bissau, especially the election and swearing-in of a new President, the Summit sympathized with Nigeria on her current security challenges and pledged support to curtail it.

The Summit which commended the ECOWAS Chairman, President John Dramani Mahama, on his effort to foster integration among the sub region countries, directed the ECOWAS Commission to liaise with the West African Health Organization (WAHO) to adopt a regional approach towards containing and managing the outbreak of the Ebola virus, directing that a solidarity fund be established to fight its outbreak.

Nigeria contributed $3 million with ($1 million) for Guinea, ($500,000) Liberia, ($500,000) Sierra Leone, ($500,000) WAHO and ($1 million) a sub-regional organization’s Pool Fund for deadly virus.