The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has approved a new set of appointments into strategic statutory positions and specialised institutions to serve between 2026 and 2030.
The appointments were announced in a communiqué issued at the conclusion of the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Lungi, Sierra Leone.
According to the regional bloc, the appointments cover five commissioners for the ECOWAS Commission, five judges for the ECOWAS Court of Justice, an Auditor-General for ECOWAS institutions and a new 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 the court’s Chief Registrar.
Regional leaders also approved the appointment of five new commissioners who will succeed the outgoing members of the ECOWAS Commission as their respective tenures come to an end.
The incoming commissioners are Mrs Francess Alghali of Sierra Leone, who will oversee Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Mr Dehpue Zuo of Liberia, responsible for Economic Affairs and Agriculture; and Dr Kalilou Sylla of Côte d’Ivoire, who will head Internal Services.
Also appointed are Mr Amin Suleiman of Ghana as Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, while Prof. Nassirou Bako-Arifari of Benin will oversee Human Development and Social Affairs.
The Authority further approved the appointment of Ms Carla Bettencourt of Cape Verde as Auditor-General for ECOWAS Institutions.
Dr Palokinam Pitche of Togo was named the new Director-General of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), while Mr Mam Jallow of The Gambia was appointed Director-General of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).
The communiqué also disclosed that Nigeria requested an additional two weeks to conclude consultations regarding the ECOWAS Vice-President position allocated to the country, a request that was accepted by the Authority.
The regional leaders expressed appreciation to the outgoing President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, for what they described as his dedicated service to the organisation during his tenure.
They also welcomed his successor, General Birame Diop of Senegal, expressing confidence in his ability to lead the commission.
“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,” the communiqué stated.
The summit was chaired by Sierra Leone’s President, Dr Julius Maada Bio, who currently serves as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Among those who attended the meeting were Presidents Romuald Wadagni of Benin, José Maria Neves of Cape Verde, Adama Barrow of The Gambia, John Mahama of Ghana, Joseph Boakai of Liberia and Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal.
Other participants included Côte d’Ivoire’s Vice President Tiémoko Meyliet Koné, Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima, Guinea’s leader General Mamady Doumbouya, Togo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Robert Dussey and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.
Also present were ECOWAS Commission President Dr Omar Touray, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, ECOWAS Chief Negotiator Dr Lansana Kouyaté, Chairman of the ECOWAS Business Council Alhaji Aliko Dangote and African Development Bank representative Dr Abdul Kamara.
The gathering equally featured ECOWAS Special Envoy on Counterterrorism Ambassador Baba Kamara, Chairman of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme Taskforce Musa Sillah and Mr Mahamadou Gado, representing the President of the UEMOA Commission.
