ABUJA/MONROVIA: Incumbent Liberian President George Manneh Weah has extended formal invitation to the Presidents and Heads of State and Government of member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to come to Liberia and witness his (Weah’s) turnover of state power to President-elect, Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
Addressing the Sixty-Fourth Ordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, in Abuja, Nigeria, on December 10, 2023, President Weah told the gathering: “I wish to inform you that I am nearing the end of my six-year term of Office as President of Liberia. I am proud to say that we fulfilled our promise to have a peaceful, transparent, free, fair, inclusive, and credible elections. And this has been acknowledged by all stakeholders.”
Weah further told the ECOWAS leaders that “following a hard-fought campaign and two rounds of polling, my rival, former Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, won the elections. I have since conveyed my congratulations and wish him every success as the next leader of Liberia.”
He further indicated that “this will be only the second time in nearly eighty (80) years that the Republic of Liberia, will be experiencing a peaceful transition of power from one democratically-elected president through constitutional and institutional processes: the first time being when I acceded to the presidency six years ago.”
Weah to ECOWAS: “My party have lost the elections, but the true victors, the true winners, are the people of Liberia, who have made their leadership choices of their own free will.
According to President Weah, “The Liberian people have spoken, and we have heard their voices.”
“The voice of the people is the voice of God,” Weah told the ECOWAS Summit.
“In my view, these elections have reaffirmed our democratic credentials as a nation. And our continuing success as post-conflict country. This should be seen as a positive and significant accomplishment not only for Liberia but for our West African region in particular and Africa in general,” President Weah further asserted.
Weah: “Consequently, this may be the last summit of the Authority that I will attend in my capacity as President of the Republic of Liberia. As a mark of friendship and solidarity, I would therefore like to take this opportunity to invite all of you to grant us the honor of attending the Inauguration Ceremonies on January 22, 2024, to witness my handing over of power to His Excellency President-elect, Ambassador Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.”
Weah to ECOWAS Leaders: “It is my fervent hope that the smooth transition of power in Liberia will resonate throughout our ECOWAS region, as we seek to galvanize our efforts in attaining enduring peace and democracy.”
At the same time, incumbent President Weah calls on leaders of ECOWAS member countries “to extend to my successor, His excellency, President-elect, Ambassador Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., the same high level of support that I have been fortunate to receive from you during my tenure as President of Liberia.”
Interestingly, at the Summit, leaders from the West African bloc gave an unusual standing ovation to President George Manneh Weah “for his commitment to smooth transfer of political power” following his defeat in the October 10, 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections in which he lost to old-time, 78 aging politician, Joseph N. Boakai, of the Unity Party.
The ECOWAS leaders, for nearly 30 minutes, stood in applause to Weah prior to the formal commencement of the 64th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government which opened on Sunday, December 10, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Nigeria.
In his opening statement, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the current Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, urged West African leaders and Heads of Government to prioritize good governance for the people, as it serves as a catalyst for socio-economic transformation and development.
‘’By providing good governance that tackles the challenges of poverty, inequality and other concerns of the people, we would have succeeded in addressing some of the root causes of military intervention in civilian processes in our region,’’ President Tinubu indicated.
He emphasized that the goal of ECOWAS to achieve a fully integrated region cannot be realized without peace, security, and stability saying; ‘’This is why the region, as far back as 2001, recognized democracy as the only form of governance capable of fostering development, inclusiveness and social well-being of our people.
It is on this basis that the West African region became the first part of the Continent to fully embrace democratization, by establishing comprehensive frameworks with legal protocols that emphasize respect for Democracy, Good Governance, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law.’’
The ECOWAS Chairman added that it was in furtherance of this objective that the leaders subscribed to the protocols and the conditions attached which stipulated ‘’specific punitive measures to be taken against any Member State opting for an unconstitutional change of government”
He reiterated that ECOWAS is still committed to re-engaging with countries under military rule on the basis of realistic and short transition plans that can deliver democracy and good governance.
“On our part, we should be prepared to provide them with technical and material support, to ensure the achievement of these strategic goals,” the ECOWAS Chairman asserted.
The ECOWAS Chairman described the attempt by some of the countries under military rule to float an Alliance of Sahel States as a ‘phantom attempt to divert attention from our mutual quest for democracy and good governance that will impact the life of our people.’’
On the recent disturbances in Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau, the ECOWAS Chairman asked fellow leaders to pay attention to protecting democracy, reiterating ECOWAS’ zero tolerance to unconstitutional changes of government.
“I urge all of us to stand strong and be highly committed in the face of any challenge in Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau. The message must go down clearly that we support a democratically elected government, not an unconstitutional exercise.”
Also, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray told the summit that in line with provisions of the ECOWAS protocols, the commission has allowed the countries under military rule access to medical and humanitarian supplies in the interest of the population.
However, he said, “reports from humanitarian agencies show that the military authorities have been interfering with humanitarian access.”
He reported that there had been violations of the sanctions imposed on the affected countries as there had been a massive movement of cash by individuals across borders and a high volume of transit goods through Burkina Faso to reach the territory of Niger and smuggling through porous borders and inland waterways.
The ECOWAS Commission President said the Commission had signed several financing agreements with development partners including seven agreements with the European Union covering areas of trade, migration, energy and agriculture amounting to 212 million Euros.
At the same time, the African Union described the commitment of ECOWAS to zero tolerance to unconstitutional change of government as exemplary and said the AU will intensify its collaboration with ECOWAS towards the development of the African Standby Force.
Represented by the commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the African Union reiterated its commitment to promoting collective security and democracy in the region.
Some of the Heads of State and Government who attended the summit were Adama Barrow, President of the Republic of The Gambia; Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana; Umaro Sissoco Embaló, President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau; George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia; Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
Others include Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Togolese Republic; Tiémoko Meyliet Koné, Vice-President of the Republic of Ivory Coast;
Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, Prime Minister of the Republic of Niger; Olushegun Adjadi Bakari, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Benin; Rui Alberto de Figueiredo Soares, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Regional Integration of the Republic of Cape Verde.
The Summit was also attended by Ismaïla Madior Fall, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Senegalese Abroad of the Republic of Senegal; Omar Alieu Touray, President of ECOWAS Commission; Abdoulaye Diop, President of the UEMOA Commission; Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and ECOWAS Mediator for Mali; Leonardo Santos Simão, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).
Bankole Adeoye, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security.
