ECONEC elects new steering committee

Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) - The Sixth Biennial General Assembly of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) has ended in Abuja with the election of new 5-member Steering Committee for the next two years (2019-2021).

A statement from ECONEC on Wednesday said Dr Maria do Rosario Lopes Pereira Goncalves, Chair of CNE Cabo Verde, was elected as president. 

The 1st Vice President is Mr Newton Ahmed Barry, Chair CENI, Burkina Faso; 2nd Vice President is Mr Momarr Alieu Njai, Chair of IEC The Gambia; the Treasurer is Mr. Amadou Ba, Chair CENI, Mali; and Deputy Treasurer  is Mrs Jean Mensa, Chair EC Ghana.

The Steering Committee will be assisted by the Permanent Secretary of the Network and the Head of the ECOWAS Electoral Assistance Division (EAD), Mr Sourou Francis Gabriel Oke.

The election was carried out respecting the principle of the Network’s linguistic balance (Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone) as enshrined in its statute, the statement said.

IT added that in accordance with provisions of the ECONEC Statute, the General Assembly adopted a unanimous Resolution conferring the title of Honorary President of ECONEC on Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the outgoing president and chairman of the Nigeria Electoral Commission in recognition of his exemplary leadership and contributions to the promotion of democracy and good governance in the ECOWAS region.

The Assembly also commended the outgoing Steering Committee and the Staff of the Secretariat and stressed the need for consolidation of the gains achieved under the leadership of the outgoing Steering Committee and sustainability.

The statement said the next regular Biennial General Assembly is scheduled to take place in Praia, capital of Cape Verde in 2021.

-0- PANA MA 7Aug2019