President John Dramani Mahama, in his capacity as Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS), will be hosting leaders of the sub-region at a two-day summit in Accra, on Thursday 10th and Friday 11th July.

The mid-year Summit of ECOWAS will consider a report on the Community’s main activities and projects over the first half of this year to be presented by the ECOWAS Commission President, Mr. Kadre Desire Ouedraogo.

The leaders are also expected to discuss a recommendation for the introduction of biometric ID cards for all ECOWAS citizens and the abolition of residence permit requirements for all citizens within Member States.

The current Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, will also engage the attention and concern of the leaders attending this Summit.

Another issue to be discussed is an update on the situation in Guinea-Bissau where a new president was sworn last month following successful parliamentary and presidential elections, held with the support of ECOWAS.

In addition to the leaders of the fifteen Members States, the Presidents of three nations bordering the ECOWAS sub-region – Mauritania, Cameroon and Chad – have also been invited.

The President of the African Union Commission and the Secretary-General of the United Nations are also among the invitees.

The 45th Ordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government will be preceded in Accra on Tuesday, 8th July, 2014, by a Mediation and Security Meeting of ECOWAS involving the Foreign and Defence Ministers from all the Member States.

The Ministers will discuss a report on the Meeting of Security and Intelligence Chiefs held in Accra. They will also examine updates on the security situations in parts of Nigeria and Northern Mali.

…Signed…

Ben Dotsei Malor

Head of Communications and Presidential Spokesperson

Office of the President, Accra