Ghana’s President and Ecowas chairman John Mahama has opened an emergency ECOWAS summit in Accra Friday with a call on leaders to unite in the fight against terrorism which he described as a global phenomenon.
Eight Heads of State are participating in the summit, while the others are being represented.
The eight are Presidents of Nigeria, Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Niger, Togo and Burkina Faso.
The summit, among other things is aimed at preventing acts of terror from gaining root in the subregion.
High on the agenda is the security situation in Northern Mali and Nigeria where terrorist groups threaten the territorial integrity of those countries.
President Mahama says the fight against terrorism is one that requires collaboration.
"Terrorism is not only a West African problem. It is a world problem. To ignore our responsibility for the eradication of terrorism is to risk the economic and developmental potential of our individual nations and indeed of our entire subregion.
"But far more important than that is to risk the lives of our citizens," the president stated.
John Mahama welcomed the support from other countries in the fight against terrorism.
The ECOWAS chair also added that members must address challenging economic times that could make citizens vulnerable.
"We must also take into consideration the increasing demographics of our sub-region. Our population is increasing dramatically...We are not creating enough jobs fast enough to absorb the growing numbers of graduating youth.
"Our social intervention and safety nets are not sufficient to cushion the poor and the vulnerable.
The president warned if the current economic inequality continued it could be a potential for violence.
Latest Stories
-
Hundreds turn out for Luv FM/Telecel Fitness Walk in Kumasi
3 mins -
Ghana Post launches Asantehene Commemorative Stamp
5 mins -
Police fire tear gas to disperse Benin wage protest
14 mins -
Airline keeps mistaking 101-year-old woman for baby
19 mins -
Harvey Weinstein hospitalised after conviction overturned
23 mins -
Anis Hafar: Learning how to avoid wars
28 mins -
Private legal practitioner wins Akan NPP parliamentary candidate poll
45 mins -
American-Israeli hostage appears in Hamas video for first time
55 mins -
Samson’s Take: Arrogance of Power, Shameful Policing
8 hours -
Burnley score late to draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford
10 hours -
Bayer Leverkusen extend unbeaten run to 46 games after draw with Stuttgart
10 hours -
Chelsea come from two goals down to draw against Aston Villa
10 hours -
Andre Ayew scores in Le Havre’s 3-3 draw with PSG
10 hours -
GPL 2023/24: Kotoko draw with Medeama; Samartex go 7 points clear of Nations FC
10 hours -
Mahama cuts sod for construction of new multipurpose Jakpa palace in Damongo
11 hours