The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has approved the appointment of new commissioners, judges and heads of key regional institutions to serve from 2026 to 2030, as the bloc moves to strengthen its governance and leadership structure.
The appointments were ratified at the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Lungi, Sierra Leone, according to a communiqué issued at the close of Tuesday's summit.
Approved appointments include five commissioners for the ECOWAS Commission, five judges of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, an Auditor-General for ECOWAS institutions, the Director-General of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), and the Director-General of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA).
The communiqué stated that the Authority endorsed the recommendations of the 96th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers on statutory appointments to Community institutions for the 2026–2030 tenure.
The newly appointed judges of the ECOWAS Court of Justice are Awa Bah of The Gambia, Charlyne Brumskine of Liberia, Désiré Aihou of Benin, Henrietta Didigu of Nigeria and Yaouza Ouro-Sama of Togo, who currently serves as the court's Chief Registrar.
Regional leaders also approved the appointment of five new commissioners to succeed outgoing members of the ECOWAS Commission whose tenures are nearing expiration.
The new commissioners are Mrs Francess Alghali of Sierra Leone as Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Mr Dehpue Zuo of Liberia as Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture; Dr Kalilou Sylla of Côte d'Ivoire as Commissioner for Internal Services; Mr Amin Suleiman of Ghana as Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation; and Prof. Nassirou Bako-Arifari of Benin as Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs.
Other appointments include Ms Carla Bettencourt of Cape Verde as Auditor-General of ECOWAS Institutions, Dr Palokinam Pitche of Togo as Director-General of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), and Mr Mam Jallow of The Gambia as Director-General of GIABA.
The Authority also granted Nigeria an additional two weeks to conclude consultations on its nominee for the office of ECOWAS Vice-President, a position allocated to the country.
In the communiqué, ECOWAS leaders paid tribute to the outgoing President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, praising his distinguished service and contributions to regional integration.
They also welcomed his successor, Gen. Birame Diop of Senegal, expressing confidence in his diplomatic, military and strategic leadership experience to drive deeper regional integration and tackle emerging challenges facing West Africa.
The summit was chaired by Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio, Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
Among the leaders in attendance were Benin's President Romuald Wadagni, Cape Verde's President José Maria Neves, Gambian President Adama Barrow, Ghanaian President John Mahama, Liberian President Joseph Boakai and Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
Nigeria was represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, while Côte d'Ivoire was represented by Vice-President Tiémoko Meyliet Koné. Also present were Guinea's President Gen. Mamady Doumbouya, Togo's Foreign Affairs Minister Robert Dussey, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Chairman of the ECOWAS Business Council Aliko Dangote, ECOWAS Chief Negotiator Dr Lansana Kouyaté, African Development Bank representative Dr Abdul Kamara, ECOWAS Special Envoy on Counterterrorism Amb. Baba Kamara, Chairman of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme Taskforce Musa Sillah, and Mr Mahamadou Gado, representing the President of the UEMOA Commission.
