The Chief’s Diary: Ten Key takeaways/tangibles from the ‘Sixty-Ninth Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS’ and the ‘Summit on the Future of Regional Integration in West Africa’ held on 19th July 2026, in Lungi, Sierra Leone
Below are a list of ten things we as West Africans, and perhaps the world, need to know about the outcomes of the 69th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS hosted in Freetown/Lungi, Sierra Leone.
1. Signing of the Inter-Governmental Agreement relating to the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP)- this will expand on the existing West African Gas Pipeline from Nigeria to Ghana and now go up to Morocco.
2. Adopted the Presidential Declaration on Advancing Gender Parity in Political Representation in ECOWAS Member States- Sierra Leone has a law for 30% gender inclusion in politics. This is a big step for other countries.
3. Adopted the Declaration of Commitment for the “Compact on the Future of Regional Integration”- ECOWAS Vision 2050 needs a direction and this is well captured in our Compact.
4. The Authority reiterated its “firm commitment to the launch of the ECO in 2027 as a key instrument for deepening regional economic integration and promoting sustainable, inclusive and resilient growth within the Community”- we are one year closer to the single currency of West Africa. It will happen.
5. The Commissioning of the ECOWAS Logistics Depot in Lungi- this will solidify ECOWAS security and health emergency preparedness.
6. Other key institutional decisions relating the appointment of the new President of the Commission and all other statutory appointees (with the exception of the VP of the Commission.)
7. The Summit also welcomed President Doumbouya of Guinea for the first time in ECOWAS meetings and President Romuald Wadagni of Benin for his first ECOWAS meetings as Head of State
8. Alhaji Aliko Dangote reiterated his plan to invest several billion dollars on the continent and urged ECOWAS Leaders to take advantage of the opportunity
9. The ECOWAS Authority decided to “support Ghana’s decision to table the matter of on-going xenophobic attacks in South Africa targeting people of African descent, particularly the despicable treatment of West African citizens as an agenda item atthe forthcoming AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government for further debate and to seek a permanent solution
10. The Summit was attended by Heads of State and High Level Officials including 10 Presidents, 2 Vice Presidents and 1 Foreign Minister; United Nations Deputy Secretary-General (H.E Amina J. Mohammed); Chairman of ECOWAS Business Council (Alhaji Aliko Dangote); and ECOWAS Chief Negotiator (H.E. Dr. Lansana Kouyaté)
Together #WeAreDelivering
