Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - West Africa’s defence chiefs will meet in an extraordinary session in Abidjan , Cote d'Ivoire, starting from Friday, to finalise the road map for the deployment of the ECOWAS Mission in Mali (MICEMA), the ECOWAS Commission said in a statement obtained by PANA here. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - The West African regional bloc ECOWAS has set up an experts' committee as part of efforts to ensure an agreeable solution to the lingering issue of Malian arms being held by Guinea, usually-reliable ECOWAS sources told PANA here Friday. Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, has commended development partners for their sustained support towards the realization of the organization’s objective of facilitating regional development and integration in an atmosphere of peace and security. Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - ECOWAS and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) have agreed to deepen cooperation in their core areas of engagement - health care delivery, trade, agricultural development, as well as regional peace and security. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Wednesday confirmed receiving a formal request from Mali's interim President Dioncounda Traore for military assistance to free the country's north, which has been in the hands of Islamists since April. Full text...

Cotonou, Benin (PANA) - ECOWAS member states have been urged to harmonize their policies and efforts in the fisheries sector to boost intra-regional trade in fish products. Full text...

Bamako, Mali (PANA) - Military chiefs from eight ECOWAS member states are due to meet with the Malian military in Bamako Friday, in an attempt to narrow the gap between them on the mandate of the ECOWAS Mission in Mali (MICEMA), PANA reported from here Thursday, quoting ECOWAS and Malian government sources. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - A tripartite mission to Guinea, to evaluate regional projects for the resettlement and reintegration of Community citizens displaced by conflicts in the region, has rounded off after nine days, an ECOWAS Commission statement said. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - The ECOWAS Commission has tasked the new Transitional Government of National Unity in Mali to take urgent steps to address the daunting challenges facing the country. Full text...

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - The ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDS), currently meeting in Bamako, Mali, will send a "high-level" mission to neighboring Algeria and Mauritania, as plans for the deployment of troops and operations of the ECOWAS Mission in Mali (MICEMA) reach advanced stage, ECOWAS said in a press statement, obtained here Thursday by PANA.Full text...

Accra, Ghana (PANA) - The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo, has said that the greatest tribute to the memory of Ghana’s late President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, is to immortalize the ideals of peace building and demonstrate a passion for regional integration which he lived and died for. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Niger Republic has honoured members of the ECOWAS Mediation Team, led by former Nigerian Head of State Abdulsalami Abubakar, for contributing to the restoration of peace to the country, following the country’s 2009 political crisis. Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The jury for the 2012 African Union's Kwame Nkrumah Scientific Awards for Women, being handled on behalf of the Union by ECOWAS, began a meeting on Monday at the ECOWAS Commission headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria, an ECOWAS press statement indicated here Tuesday. Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador Kadre Desire Ouegraogo, Monday pledged that his management team will carry other staff members along in delivering on the mandate of a citizen-driven regional integration. Full text...

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) – A sub-regional meeting on the theme, “Validation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament Gender Strategy”, opened Tuesday at the Senegambia Beach Hotel in Banjul, the Gambian capital. Full text...

Bamako, Mali (PANA) - ECOWAS will Wednesday open a conference in Bamako, Mali, to finalize its preparations for the deployment of 3,000 troops to Mali, to help restore the country's national integrity and return constitutional order, PANA reported from here Tuesday. Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has made the elimination of malaria from the region by 2015 a major priority, using an integrated strategy that involves strengthening of the vector control (biolarviciding) intervention component, ECOWAS Commissioner for Administration and Finance Khadi Saccoh said. Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - ECOWAS Commission president, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, has called for concerted efforts in support of the ECOWAS campaign to eliminate malaria in West Africa by 2015. Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - ECOWAS Commission President Kadre Desire Ouedraogo has received a draft legal instrument for the enhancement of the powers of the Community’s 120-member Parliament, the Commission said in a statement Wednesday. Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The ECOWAS Commission has welcomed the 27 July return of Mali's Interim President Dioncounda Traoré to Bamako to resume his functions. Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - A 16-member Council to coordinate the activities of the ECOWAS Volunteer Programme (EVP) has been inaugurated by ECOWAS Commission President Kadre Desire Ouedraogo. Full text...

Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (PANA) - The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is doggedly pushing ahead with its plan to deploy 3,000 troops to its troubled Member State to help restore the country's national integrity and return constitutional order. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - The wife of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Mrs. Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, has called for synergy, complementarity, strong partnership and collaboration between the African First Ladies Peace Mission and the Commission for the promotion of continental peace and development. Full text...

Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (PANA) - The ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mrs. Salamatu Suleiman, has called on regional defence chiefs to redouble efforts at ensuring enduring peace and security in the region. Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has expressed ''shock and sadness'' at the passing away of President John Evans Atta Mills Tuesday at the age of 68. Full text...

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) – The President of the Commission of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ambassador Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, has pledged to do more ''for free movement of persons towards boosting intra-community trade.'' Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - West African military chiefs are due to hold an emergency meeting 25-26 July to deliberate on the outcome of the recent Technical Assessment Mission (TAM) to Mali, an ECOWAS Commission statement obtained by PANA here Tuesday said. Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, has pledged to work for the rigorous implementation of the regional Protocol on free movement of persons with a view to boosting intra-community trade, hovering between 11 and 15 percent, and stimulating regional economy. Full text...

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - Living up to its pre-tournament billing, defending champion and host Senegal won five of the six gold medals at stake in the country teams' event at the 5th ECOWAS African Wresting competition which ended at Dakar’s Iba Mar Diop Stadium Saturday. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Thursday in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, signed a 1-million-euro grant agreement for the empowerment of rural women in the sub-region, according to a NEPAD statement made available to PANA here. Full text...

Dakar, Senegal (PANA) - The 5th ECOWAS African Wrestling Tournament opened in Dakar, Senegal, Thursday with wrestlers from 13 of the 15 member states hitting the sandy arena at the Iba Mar Diop Stadium. Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The 5th ECOWAS Wrestling Tournament due to hold in Dakar, Senegal, 12-14 July will feature wrestlers from 13 of the 15 ECOWAS Member States in five weight categories - 66kg, 76kg, 86kg, 100kg and 100kg - as well as country teams, an ECOWAS Commission statement said Tuesday. Full text...

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (PANA) - Ahead of the start of the 30-day Ramadan due to start 20 July, the six-nation ECOWAS Contact Group on Mali has appealed to all stakeholders in the country's crisis for the total cessation of hostilities before the holy month. Full text...

Banjul, Gambia (PANA) – Gambian parliamentarians have approved three Bills with international dimensions -- the ECOWAS Value Added Tax (VAT) Protocol, Amendments to the IMF Articles of Agreement, and the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF).Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Burkina Faso's Minister for Education and Literacy Koumba Boly has urged ECOWAS member states to promote the peace culture in the region through value-centered education. Full text...

Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire (PANA) - Four months after he assumed duties, Ambassador Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo was official sworn into office as the ECOWAS Commission President on the sidelines of the just-concluded 41st ECOWAS Summit in Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire. Full text...

Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire (PANA) - The West African regional bloc ECOWAS has decided to fast-track the deployment of over 3,000 troops to Mali to help safeguard the country's political transition and restore its territorial integrity. Full text...

Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire (PANA) - West African leaders have welcomed the region's positive economic growth of 6.4% recorded in 2011, as well as the bright prospects for 2012. Full text...

Yamoussoukro, Cote d'Ivoire (PANA) - The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has urged member states and the international community to assist Nigeria in its efforts to combat the violent Islamic sect Boko Haram. Full text...

Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - Journalists from English-speaking West African countries began a two-day sensitization workshop here Thursday on Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Financing of Terrorism (CFT). Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Regional experts are to meet in Ouagadougou, the Burkinabe capital, from 2-6 July to validate the ECOWAS Reference Manual on the Culture of Peace, Human Rights, Citizenship, and Regional Integration, according to an ECOWAS press statement, received by PANA here. Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The political situations in Guinea-Bissau and Mali will dominate discussions at the 41st ordinary summit of the regional bloc ECOWAS, billed to hold Friday in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’Ivoire, the ECOWAS Commission said. Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The ECOWAS Commission has expressed its willingness to key into the Investment Monitoring Platform (IMP), a new web portal established by the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) within the framework of the African Regional Investment Promotion Programme. Full text...

Accra, Ghana (PANA) - Rising from an ECOWAS Information and Sensitization workshop for government officials and non-state actors in Accra, Ghana, participants on Friday called on Member States ensure effective implementation of the regional free movement protocol by reducing and ultimately eliminating “harassment, corruption and extortion by border agents”. Full text...

Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - Political turbulence in some parts of West Africa impacted negatively not only in tourism promotion and development, but also in the socio-economic advancement of West Africans, the Gambian Minister of Tourism and Culture, Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie, said here Saturday at the opening of the maiden ECOWAS tourism ministers' summit. Full text...

Accra, Ghana (PANA) - Cote d’Ivoire has officially offered to host the 3rd ECOWAS Under-23 Games in 2014, as the 2nd edition of the regional biennial competition being hosted by Ghana in the capital, Accra, gradually winds to a close Friday. Full text...

Accra, Ghana (PANA) - Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, has called on community citizens to assume ownership and participate actively in the implementation of the ECOWAS regional integration programmes. Full text...

Accra, Ghana (PANA) - The ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre (YSDC) says it needs the sustained support of all stakeholders, especially the media, to deliver on its mandate of using sports and youth empowerment as tools to foster regional integration. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - The British government has pledged its continuous support to enhance maritime security and development within the West African region, so as to enhance peace, security and stability in the area, according to British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Lloyd. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Stakeholders working to improve media practice and contributions to Full text...