TURNOVER SPEECH BY H. E ISAAC W. NYENABO

Your Excellency, the Permanent Representatives of ECOWAS and WAEMU to the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union

Distinguished Excellences and Colleagues! I am deeply thankful for your cooperation given me during my tenure as coordinator of our Group, The West African Region Group of Ambassadors since last year October 2020.

will also like to congratulate the incoming chair, H.E _________ of Mali and wish to pledge my full support and commitment to your leadership as coordinator of our group. 

Let me also offer my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the Permanent Representatives of ECOWAS, H. E Hemou, and the Secretary for the profound work during our tenure aim at addressing some of the issues faced by our group.

Excellencies, it is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed our efforts and requires an urgent need to significantly strengthen our efforts, coordination by engaging with our international partners through the many bilateral and multilateral agreements as it has affected all our economies as well.  

Excellencies, with the success of my predecessor H. E Mr. Alfredo Cabral Lopes, Ambassador of the Republic of Guinea Bissau, you will recall that we highlighted several issues that were of focus to our region and group in which we intended to address, Post Cotonou Negotiation, the political situation our region visa-vi the elections, regional approach towards the combat of COVID-19 with our development partner, anti-money laundering, and counterterrorism during our tenure.

Excellencies, during the period under review, many countries in our region went to elections in the latter part of last   year and we are glad that they were peacefully. The Republic of Ghana, The Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, The Republic of Niger, the Republic of Guinea, The Republic of Burkina Faso and my own country, the Republic of Liberia.  peaceful, fair, and transparent elections in our region strengthen stability and security, and further assist in attracting the partnership that is much needed to help us achieve rapid and sustainable development for our people. Similarly, we can safely say that the Post-2020 Contonou agreement is now finalize.

With regards to the anti-money laundering, and counterterrorism, I will like to thank H.E Madame Harriet Sena Siaw-Boateng, Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana who has served as our regional representative to the Ad hoc Ministerial contact group on the European Union list of non-cooperative tax Jurisdiction, anti-money laundering and counter—terrorism has done so very diligently and profound.

Distinguish colleagues, the process of revision of our rules, guideline and protocol for the group is fast in progress.

Distinguish Ambassador and incoming Chair, you can always count on me for full support.

I will let to thank you once again. Thank you.

THANK YOU!!