ECOWAS Commission has called for more decentralized stakeholders’ participation in its vision 2050,
This call was made during a two day workshop, held in Abuja, 29th – 30th March, 2021.
The forum brought together Mayors, Governors and other relevant stakeholders and the Gambia was represented by Banjul Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe.
The vice President of ECOWAS Commission, Madam Finda Karoma in her opening remarks, emphasized on importance of the two-day meeting in ensuring that the ECOWAS 2050 development process is participatory and all-inclusive.
“I was privileged to participate in different sessions and I took the opportunity to network with other stakeholders for future projects that will help the people of Banjul and by extension The Gambia,” Mayor Lowe disclosed.
According to her Stakeholders also responded to many persistent challenges facing the region, while they mandated the ECOWAS Commission to establish a comprehensive roadmap for a new strategy, post vision 2050, that will address these challenges and reflect the community’s aspirations and projections for the next 30 years.
Also discussed at the meeting were various challenges facing the West African region that is affecting economic development.
Policies, programmes and projects to address the various challenges which will enhance the vision 2050 and make it all inclusive were recommended.
The workshop promoted a shared understanding of the aims, objectives and mandate of ECOWAS as well as proposed an action plan for effective involvement of the various decentralized stakeholders in the design and implementation of ECOWAS programmes and projects.
More so, the forum recommended long term plans for the region in terms of the “West Africa, they want to see”.
Participants were also sensitized on the key opportunities available in the region, which could be optimized for the benefit of the community as a whole.
