Senegalese President honours ECOWAS Commission President

While in Dakar on a mission, as part of activities lined up for the forthcoming Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government, the ECOWAS Commission’s President was received in audience and elevated to the rank of Commander of the National Order of the Lion on Thursday evening, 6 May 2021 by His Excellency Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal.

A mark of honour which His Excellency Jean Claude Kassi Brou was highly delighted to receive. «I feel greatly honoured and extremely delighted to receive this distinction which I have just received from His Excellency. Mr President of the Republic…I wish to avail myself of this opportunity to convey my heartfelt gratitude to the President of the Republic for this recognition.».« … our region, which had been on a strong economic pedestal for some years now, was suddenly hit with the Covid-19 pandemic with its attendant human, health, economic and commercial consequences.

Covid has led not only led to a downward slide in economic activities but also a financial crisis. This meeting with H.E. the President of the Republic of Senegal has provided an opportunity for us to assess the status of decisions made by the Heads of State. Also, you are all aware that the region has been hit by a great turbulence.

This is of course the security situation particularly in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin which is equally affecting our countries on a three-fold scale - economic, humanitarian and financial. We also have a number of decisions taken by the Heads of State. You would agree with me that this is a good opportunity to present the status of implementation of these decisions to the President of Senegal.», stated the ECOWAS Commission’s President, on his way out of the meeting.

H.E. Jean Claude Kassi Brou also indicated that his mission in Senegal is in line with preparations for the forthcoming Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government on Covid. For the ECOWAS Commission’s President, the ongoing vaccination campaign in several countries of the sub-region, is the best solution to ending the crisis.

« We strongly hope and wish that the pace of the vaccination which commenced several months ago in many of our countries through the COVAX Initiative, will be sustained and increased so that our countries will meet the conditions for economic recovery, given that only growth can provide employment, create economic and financial stability as well as pave the way for economic progress in the region.».

The delegation of the ECOWAS Commission’s President comprised Mr Tei Konzi, Commissioner for Trade, Customs and Free Movement of persons, Mrs Sandra Oulate, Director of Communication and Mr Kadja Eugène Etche, Executive Assistant of the Commission’s President.