The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has approved the appointment of new officials to key statutory positions and specialised institutions for the 2026–2030 term.
The appointments were announced in a communiqué issued at the end of the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Lungi, Sierra Leone.
The appointments cover five commissioners for the ECOWAS Commission, five judges for the ECOWAS Court of Justice, the Auditor-General of ECOWAS Institutions and the Director-General of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO).
“The Authority endorses the recommendations from the Ninety-Sixth Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers relating to statutory appointments to positions in Community Institutions for the period 2026–2030,” the communiqué stated.
The newly appointed judges of the ECOWAS Court of Justice are Awa Bah of The Gambia, Charlyne Brumskine of Liberia, Désiré Aihou of Benin, Henrietta Didigu of Nigeria and Yaouza Ouro-Sama of Togo, who currently serves as Chief Registrar of the court.
Regional leaders also approved the appointment of five new commissioners to replace outgoing officials at the ECOWAS Commission whose tenures are ending.
The new commissioners are Mrs Francess Alghali of Sierra Leone, Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Mr Dehpue Zuo of Liberia, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture; Dr Kalilou Sylla of Côte d’Ivoire, Commissioner for Internal Services; Mr Amin Suleiman of Ghana, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation; and Prof. Nassirou Bako-Arifari of Benin, Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs.
Also appointed were Ms Carla Bettencourt of Cape Verde as Auditor-General of ECOWAS Institutions; Dr Palokinam Pitche of Togo as Director-General of the West African Health Organisation; and Mr Mam Jallow of The Gambia as Director-General of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa.
According to the communiqué, the Authority granted Nigeria an additional two weeks to review and resolve issues relating to the ECOWAS Vice-President position allocated to the country.
The Authority also expressed appreciation to the outgoing President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, for his service to the regional bloc and welcomed his successor, Gen. Birame Diop of Senegal.
“The Authority expresses confidence in the incoming President’s extensive diplomatic, military, and strategic expertise to provide strategic leadership to deepen regional integration and address regional challenges,” it stated.
The summit was chaired by Sierra Leonean President Julius Bio, who also serves as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Among those in attendance were President Romuald Wadagni of Benin, President José Neves of Cape Verde, President Adama Barrow of The Gambia, President John Mahama of Ghana, President Joseph Boakai of Liberia and President Bassirou Faye of Senegal.
Other participants included Côte d’Ivoire’s Vice President Tiémoko Koné, Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima, Guinea’s leader Gen. Mamady Doumbouya, Togo’s Foreign Affairs Minister Robert Dussey and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ghazouani.
Distinguished guests at the summit included the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed; ECOWAS Chief Negotiator, Dr Lansana Kouyaté; Chairman of the ECOWAS Business Council, Alhaji Aliko Dangote; and Dr Abdul Kamara, representing the African Development Bank.
Also present were ECOWAS Special Envoy on Counterterrorism, Amb. Baba Kamara; Chairman of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme Taskforce, Musa Sillah; and Mr Mahamadou Gado, representing the President of the UEMOA Commission.
