ECOWAS Commission

Also known as: Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission

West African regional organization conducting governance, health, security, and development initiatives across member states.

2026-05-082026-09-16

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

June 2026
2 JunJoy Online
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, has warned that West Africa’s continued dependence on imported rice threatens the region’s food sovereignty, urging governments and investors to accelerate efforts towards rice self-sufficiency. …
West Africa can no longer import its way to food security – ECOWAS
2 JunJoy Online
… The new regime was announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Eric Opoku, at the West Africa Rice Investment Roundtable in Accra, organised in partnership with the World Bank, ECOWAS Commission, and the African Development Bank. …
Government to tie rice imports to local production in major policy shift
2 JunJoy Online
… The ECOWAS Commission at the West Africa Rice Investment Roundtable held on June 2, 2026 brought together representatives of ECOWAS Member States, representatives of Regional and International Financial Institutions, development partners, private sector leaders, and investors
US$4bn rice imports by West African countries untenable – Dep. Finance Minister
May 2026
8 MayJoy Online
The ECOWAS Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting regional maritime security initiatives through enhanced cooperation and coordinated action among member states. …
ECOWAS reaffirms commitment to strengthening maritime security cooperation in West Africa

World & Region

West African Health Organisation launches patient support centres in three countries

The News

The West African Health Organisation has launched projects to establish Health Service User Support Centres in Benin, The Gambia and Togo, providing patients with structured places to report healthcare problems, seek guidance and support. The centres will also facilitate dialogue and mediation, using patient feedback to identify recurring issues and improve healthcare quality and safety.

29 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 29 August

West African Health Organisation launches patient support centres in three countries
The West African Health Organisation has launched projects to establish Health Service User Support Centres in Benin, The Gambia and Togo, providing patients with structured places to report healthcare problems, seek guidance and support. The centres will also facilitate dialogue and mediation, using patient feedback to identify recurring issues and improve healthcare quality and safety.
29 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 1 August

President Mahama leads state funeral for James Victor Gbeho
President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang led a state funeral at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra on Friday for James Victor Gbeho, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs who died at age 91 on June 13, 2026. The ceremony brought together prominent figures including MPs, ministers, government officials, and representatives from the diplomatic community, ECOWAS, and the United Nations.
1 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 31 July

Ghana holds state funeral for Ambassador James Victor Gbeho
The Government of Ghana held a state funeral on Friday, July 31, for former Minister for Foreign Affairs and former President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, at the forecourt of the State House in Accra. The ceremony, attended by President John Dramani Mahama, Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, parliamentary and diplomatic figures, and international dignitaries, celebrated his distinguished service to Ghana, the West African sub-region, and the international community.
31 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Foreign Affairs Ministry to name facility after late Ambassador Gbeho
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will name one of the facilities in its new ministerial block after the late Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, a former Foreign Affairs Minister and former President of the ECOWAS Commission, in recognition of his contributions to Ghana's diplomacy and public service. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa made the announcement at Gbeho's state funeral.
31 July 2026 · Joy Online →
President Mahama tributes late Ambassador James Gbeho's five decades
President John Mahama has paid tribute to the late Ambassador James Victor Gbeho at his state funeral on July 31, describing him as a distinguished diplomat who served Ghana with integrity and professionalism throughout more than five decades in public service. Mahama highlighted Gbeho's tenure as Ghana's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations between 1980 and 1990 as one of the longest and most distinguished diplomatic postings in the country's history.
31 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 30 July

ECOWAS, Ghana reaffirm women's empowerment commitment
ECOWAS, the Government of Ghana and development partners have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening institutional capacity, gender equality and women's empowerment across West Africa at the 2026 ECOWAS Gender Development Centre Annual Briefing in Accra. The meeting reviewed achievements from 2022 to 2026 and outlined strategic priorities for 2026-2030, including strengthening collaboration among member states and introducing the ECOWAS Gender Observatory to improve gender data collection and evidence-based policymaking.
30 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 29 July

State funeral set for former Foreign Minister Gbeho
Ghana will hold a state funeral for late former Foreign Affairs Minister James Victor Gbeho on July 31, 2026, at the State House in Accra. The diplomat served as Chief Director and Deputy Minister in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, UN Special Representative for Somalia, and President of the ECOWAS Commission.
29 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
State burial for late Ambassador James Victor Gbeho set for July 31
Government has announced a state funeral for the late Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, to be held at the forecourt of Jubilee House on Friday, July 31, 2026, in recognition of his decades of service as a distinguished diplomat including roles as Ghana's Foreign Minister, UN Special Representative for Somalia, and President of the ECOWAS Commission.
29 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 14 July

ECOWAS delegation studies Ghana's fuel quality standards framework
A ECOWAS Commission delegation is conducting a three-day study tour in Ghana to examine the National Petroleum Authority's regulatory framework on fuel quality standards, with the aim of strengthening downstream petroleum regulation across the sub-region through experience-sharing and harmonised standards.
14 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 26 June

ECOWAS Court President urges members to enforce regional judgments
The President of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice called on Member States to translate their commitment to enforcing the Court's judgments into concrete action, citing enforcement as a pressing challenge for the regional judicial system. The call came at the Second Meeting of Competent National Authorities in Cotonou, Benin, which brought together officials from eight West African countries to operationalise mechanisms for enforcing Court judgments.
26 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 23 June

Ambassador James Victor Gbeho dies; family informs President Mahama
The family of Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, a distinguished statesman who served as Ghana's Foreign Minister, ECOWAS Commission President, and MP for Anlo, has formally notified President Mahama of his passing. Gbeho was widely respected for his roles in regional integration and global diplomacy at the United Nations.
23 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Family informs President Mahama of diplomat Gbeho's death
The family of Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, a prominent Ghanaian statesman and former Foreign Minister, has formally notified President Mahama of his passing during a courtesy visit to the Presidency. Gbeho served as Ghana's Foreign Minister, Member of Parliament for Anlo, and President of the ECOWAS Commission, and was widely regarded for his contributions to regional integration and West African diplomacy.
23 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Family formally informs President Mahama of Ambassador Gbeho's death
The family of late Ambassador James Victor Gbeho has formally notified President John Mahama of his passing during a courtesy call at the Presidency, fulfilling both cultural and diplomatic obligations. Gbeho was a distinguished diplomat who served as Ghana's Foreign Minister, an MP for Anlo, and president of the ECOWAS Commission, earning recognition for his contributions to West African integration and international diplomacy.
23 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 17 June

Agyeman-Rawlings family visits Gbeho family after ambassador's death
The Agyeman-Rawlings family paid a condolence visit to the family of former Foreign Minister Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, who died on Sunday. MP Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings described Gbeho as a close family friend and offered the Rawlings family's support during the period of mourning.
17 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 15 June

Book of condolence opens for late Ambassador Victor Gbeho
Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, a distinguished Ghanaian statesman and career diplomat who served as President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ghana's Foreign Minister, and UN Special Representative for Somalia, passed away on June 13, 2026, at age 90. A book of condolence is open at his Accra residence from June 17 to July 8, 2026, with visiting hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
15 June 2026 · Joy Online →
ECOWAS mourns former Commission President James Victor Gbeho
The ECOWAS Commission has expressed condolences on the death of former Commission President Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, describing his passing as a major loss to Ghana, West Africa, and the international diplomatic community. Gbeho served as ECOWAS Commission President from February 2010 to March 2012 and held several high-profile positions including Ghana's Foreign Minister and UN Ambassador.
15 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Sunday 14 June

Former Foreign Minister and ECOWAS President Gbeho dies at 91
Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, who served as Ghana's Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1997 to 2001 and as President of the ECOWAS Commission from 2010 to 2012, died at a hospital on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at age 91. Born in Keta in 1935, Gbeho was a lawyer and diplomat who also represented Anlo Constituency in Parliament and held ambassadorial postings in China, India, Nigeria, Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and at the United Nations.
14 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Nigeria wins fourth ECOWAS cybersecurity hackathon in Accra
Nigeria's team "Error" won the 4th ECOWAS Regional Cybersecurity Hackathon 2026, organised by the ECOWAS Commission and Ghana's Cyber Security Authority in Accra, securing the $10,000 grand prize. The four-day event brought together cybersecurity professionals from 12 ECOWAS member states who developed solutions to regional cybersecurity challenges including ransomware, phishing, and fraud.
14 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 3 June

Vice President urges West Africa to develop rice as strategic economic asset
Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang opened a two-day ECOWAS Rice Investment Roundtable in Accra, calling on West Africa to view rice farming as a strategic economic asset focused on youth, incomes and economic resilience. She noted that the region spends more than $50 billion annually on food imports, with rice accounting for a significant portion, despite possessing fertile land, water resources and entrepreneurial farmers.
3 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Africa must invest in agriculture to reduce food import reliance
Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called on African countries to take greater control of their food systems by investing strategically in agriculture, reducing dependence on food imports and strengthening regional cooperation. She noted that Africa spends more than US$50 billion annually on food imports despite having fertile land and abundant water resources, and stressed that transforming agriculture into a modern commercial industry is essential for job creation and economic growth.
3 June 2026 · The Chronicle →

Tuesday 2 June

West Africa must boost rice production for food sovereignty
The ECOWAS Commission President warned that West Africa's dependence on imported rice threatens food sovereignty, noting that despite a 44 percent increase in regional rice production between 2008 and 2024, demand still outstrips local supply. He urged governments and investors to accelerate efforts towards rice self-sufficiency and develop regional value chains to create jobs and strengthen economic resilience.
2 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Government links rice import permits to local farm investment
Ghana's government announced a new policy requiring rice importers to demonstrate verifiable partnerships with local rice producers before receiving import permits, aiming to accelerate progress toward self-sufficiency and reduce the import bill.
2 June 2026 · Joy Online →
West African rice imports costing $3–4 billion yearly, unsustainable
West African countries spend about US$3 to 4 billion annually importing rice, a situation the Deputy Finance Minister describes as economically unsustainable and strategically untenable. He urged stakeholders to close the gap between production and consumption to create jobs, improve farmers' livelihoods, and reduce foreign exchange outflows.
2 June 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 8 May

ECOWAS strengthens maritime security cooperation in West Africa
ECOWAS reaffirmed its commitment to supporting regional maritime security initiatives through enhanced cooperation among member states. The Commissioner for Political Affairs noted that coordinated efforts by MMCC Zones and joint annual patrols have contributed to improved security and a marked decline in piracy across the Gulf of Guinea.
8 May 2026 · Joy Online →