Africa-Press – Gambia. The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, has warned that without genuine reforms to improve accountability, discipline, and results in public governance, Africa’s development potential will remain untapped.
Speaking on Wednesday at the on-going Sahel Governance Forum at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre, Dr. Touray delivered a candid address that challenged regional leaders to go beyond elections and focus on the deeper foundations of effective governance.
“Elections are important, but reducing governance to elections is a very deep view of governance,” he told a packed hall of regional heads of state, ministers, lawmakers, and international partners.
“Governance is about accountability. It is about discipline. It is about results,” he emphasized. “Unless we fix governance, Africa will continue to sit on gold mines and oil wells, but African people will continue to run on empty.”
Dr. Touray also addressed the sensitive issue of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger’s recent withdrawal from ECOWAS. He stressed that despite institutional disagreements, the community remains committed to regional unity.
“Even with their departure, ECOWAS continues to consider the three countries as part of the community. The people of West Africa must continue to enjoy the gains of freedom and integration realized over the past 50 years,” he said.
According to him, both sides have agreed to maintain free movement and trade, and are also working on joint frameworks to combat terrorism. He noted the countries’ interest in remaining part of ECOWAS agencies such as GIABA, AAPA, and the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development.
The ECOWAS President also praised The Gambia for hosting the high-level event. “Thank you for positioning The Gambia not only as a tourist destination but also as a favorite spot for international conferences,” he said.
As the Sahel Forum continues, Dr. Touray urged participants to use the platform to generate bold, practical strategies to rebuild social trust and restore regional stability.
For More News And Analysis About Gambia Follow Africa-Press
