Accra, Ghana (PANA) - Ghana has launched the publicity campaign for the 7th ECOWAS Trade Fair, which is due to be held in the nation's capital, Accra, 24 Oct to 4 Nov. Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Toga Gayewea McIntosh, has called on members of the Community Parliament to intensify support to regional leaders for the consolidation of peace and security in West Africa. Full text...

Bamako, Mali (PANA) - Malian and ECOWAS leaders have reached an agreement on the deployment of an African military force to help liberate northern Mali, which has been occupied for nearly six months by armed Islamic groups and Tuareg rebels. Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - Nigeria's federal government has approved US$6 million for the construction of a building to house the ECOWAS Parliament, according to Nigerian Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who is also the Speaker of the regional parliament. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Participants at the just-ended Sensitization Campaign on the Protocols, Conventions and Activities of ECOWAS integration processes have made 23 recommendations on how the foremost regional bloc can achieve more successes. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - ECOWAS has said citizen sensitisation and participation in the design and execution of its programmes are critical to the success of regional integration efforts and consistent with the bloc's vision. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Ministers in charge of security services in ECOWAS member states have urged the relevant authorities to improve the salaries, living and working conditions of internal security forces to enhance their effectiveness in the prevention and combat of crime in the region. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - ECOWAS has urged its member states that are yet to ratify the 2006 Regional Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons to do so to demonstrate their collective determination to rid the region of the primary tools of violence and instability. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - ECOWAS member states have been urged to modify their approach to crime control in response to the dynamics of the security threats in the region. Full text...

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara on Friday advised governments in the ECOWAS sub region to consider possible reforms of the regional body in order to improve its role as security instrument. Full text...

Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire (PANA) - Law enforcement agencies and operatives in West Africa should close ranks and upgrade their knowledge and tools in order to counter the sophistication of criminals and the rising wave of organized transnational crimes in the region, Col. Abdoulrahmane Dieng, Head of ECOWAS Regional Security Division, has said. Full text...

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - A Nigerian NGO, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has filed a suit at the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja, in an effort to stop the plan by the Gambian government to execute two Nigerians who are on death row. Full text...

Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council is billed to meet in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, 17 Sept to consider the possibility of re-imposing sanctions on sections of the Malian military, which has continued to obstruct the country's political transition, ECOWAS sources told PANA Wednesday. Full text...

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...