The ECOWAS Council of the Wise has convened in Accra, Ghana, to discuss ways to enhance the organization’s effectiveness in addressing regional challenges. Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Amb. Dr. Abdel-Fatau Musah, highlighted the importance of the council’s role in promoting peace and stability in West Africa.
Dr. Musah praised Ghana’s contribution to ECOWAS’ peace architecture, citing its role in backchannel diplomacy during critical periods. He emphasized the need for the council to be more engaged in preventive diplomacy, citing examples of recent border disputes and unconstitutional changes of government in the region, including the Guinea-Sierra Leone-Liberia border dispute and the Guinea Bissau coup.
The commissioner stressed that the current global environment, characterized by transactional relations and geostrategic struggles, requires ECOWAS to be proactive and assertive in promoting Africa’s interests. He highlighted the threats of terrorism and violent extremism, exacerbated by the proliferation of dangerous weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles.
The council’s retreat aims to identify obstacles to its effective deployment and chart a way forward. Dr. Musah emphasized the need for ECOWAS to learn from past experiences and become a key player in shaping Africa’s future in a multipolar world. He noted that the region faces numerous challenges, including the need to strengthen democratic institutions, address security concerns, and promote economic integration.
The meeting is expected to yield concrete recommendations for enhancing the council’s effectiveness and promoting regional stability. ECOWAS member states are looking to the council for guidance on addressing pressing issues, including the need for peaceful transitions of power and the management of electoral disputes.
The council’s work is seen as critical to the region’s efforts to promote peace, security, and economic development. As such, the outcomes of the meeting are expected to have significant implications for the region’s future.
