ECOWAS leaders hold extraordinary summit on COVID-19

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The Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government Thursday held an extraordinary session through videoconference, during which the leaders jointly appointed President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria as champion of the battle against Covid-19 pandemic in the West African sub-region.

The Heads of State were said to have discussed the situation and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the ECOWAS region. Preceding the extraordinary summit,  it was said ministers in charge of finance and the governors of central banks from across the region had also held a virtual extraordinary session on the COVID-19 situation, on April 21, 2020.

To address the COVID-19 Situation in the region, ECOWAS had earlier on provided various forms of support to its 15 Member States, in addition to assistance from international partners, for the purchase of medical supplies and equipment essential for the fight against the pandemic.

A a press statement by ECOWAS said, as of April 20, 2020, according to the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) data, the 15 Member States have recorded 5,474 confirmed cases, 140 deaths, 1,567 recoveries,  with 3,767 active cases. “ECOWAS reaffirms its solidarity with Member States and welcomes all the measures already taken to contain the spread of the pandemic and care for the sick,” said the statement.

About 13 ECOWAS heads of state were reported to have participated in the teleconference, including the President of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Embalo who participated in the ECOWAS summit for the first time since he assumed office in February. Others in attendance at the meeting were the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for West Africa and the Sahel Mohamed Ibn Chambas as well as the president of ECOWAS Commission, Kassi Brou.