Ken Ofori-Atta, the Minister for Finance, has congratulated the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission for producing the draft ECOWAS Vision 2050, a successor to Vision 2020.
He said ECOWAS Vision 2050 is a critical milestone in the Community’s journey towards realising “an integrated, peaceful and prosperous West Africa”.
“It is also important that I congratulate all major actors in the region for the achievements and successes recorded during the implementation of the ECOWAS Vision 2020,” said Ofori-Atta, said in a speech read on his behalf at the opening experts’ meeting to validate the draft ECOWAS Vision 2050.
Vision 2020, which envisaged transforming the Community from an ECOWAS of States into an ECOWAS of Peoples, expired last year.
The intention behind launching Vision 2050 is, therefore, to provide the region with a new, medium-term strategic plan that takes into account current development dynamics.
It will be adopted by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in December 2021 but implementation will begin in January 2023.
Model of progressive integration
The vision statement sets out a plan to create “a fully integrated Community of peoples, living in a peaceful and prosperous region, with strong institutions and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms, striving for inclusive and sustainable development”.
Ofori-Atta said the Ghanaian government is proud of the achievements of ECOWAS in peace and security; democracy and good governance; intra-regional trade and investment; free movement of people, goods and capital; and infrastructure development (in the transport, energy and information/communications technology sectors) during the implementation of the Vision 2020.
These achievements had earned the Community a prestigious place amongst the regional economic communities (RECs) of Africa, he said, and declared: “ECOWAS is no doubt the model REC in Africa.”
Nonetheless, Ofori-Atta said: “Despite these achievements, so much still remains to be done in order to raise the living standards of our people and contribute to the progress and development of the African continent as enshrined in the revised ECOWAS Treaty.”
Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
#AsaaseRadio
#TheVoiceofOurLand
#WeLoveOurLand
