ECOWAS has pledged its support for Liberia Government’s six year Agenda for Transformation (AFT) 2012-2017 and the National Framework Vision 2030 aimed at consolidating peace and stability and making Liberia a middle-income country by 2030.

The Special Representative of the ECOWAS Commission’s President to Liberia, Ambassador Tunde Ajisomo, made the pledge during a recent ceremony for the presentation of his credentials to Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Monrovia.

The envoy affirmed the thrust of ECOWAS’ strategic Vision 2020 aimed at deepening regional integration and transforming “our region from an ECOWAS of States to an ECOWAS of the People.”

He assured the Liberian leader that ECOWAS would continue to provide necessary assistance to the Government and People of Liberia, hence the re-opening of the Office of the Special Representative of the President of ECOWAS Commission at Ambassadorial level.

The office, which was opened in 2004 was closed in 2010.

On behalf of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador Ajisomo congratulated the Liberian people on the country’s recent celebration of 10 years of sustained peace and stability, facilitated by ECOWAS.

In her response during the December 2013 ceremony, President Johnson-Sirleaf expressed her appreciation to the President of ECOWAS Commission His Excellency Kadré Desire Ouédraogo for re-opening the ECOWAS Office in Liberia and commended the regional organization for resolving conflicts and for its leadership role in crisis management in the region.

Assuring the envoy of the fullest support of the Government of Liberia in the discharge of his duties in country, she called on ECOWAS and other international partners to adopt an integrated approach in dealing with the challenges of human and drug trafficking and other organized cross-border crimes, including terrorism, illegal trade in small arms and light weapons.

She also called for the acceleration of regional infrastructural development.

Following the presentation, Ambassador Ajisomo hosted a well-attended reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps and friends of ECOWAS to mark the occasion and the re- opening of ECOWAS Office in Liberia.

He also paid courtesy calls on the Ministers of Finance, National Planning and Information Culture and Tourism as well as the Special Representatives of the United Nations, the European Union and the African Union, among others.

During the audiences, the envoy assured them of ECOWAS’ readiness to work closely with all relevant stakeholders in Liberia towards advancing ECOWAS integration projects in Liberia and in the sub-region.

Source: African Press Association