President John Mahama, Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS), will host leaders of the sub-region at a two-day summit in Accra on July 10 and July 11,2014.

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.

A media advisory from the Flagstaff House in Accra said the leaders were 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 in last month following successful parliamentary and presidential elections, held with the support of ECOWAS,” it said.

The statement said in addition to the leaders of the 15 member states, the Presidents of three nations bordering the ECOWAS sub-region — Mauritania, Cameroon and Chad — have also been invited.

It said 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 by a Mediation and Security Meeting of ECOWAS in Accra Tuesday July 8, involving the Foreign and Defence ministers from all 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 situation in parts of Nigeria and northern Mali.

The agenda of the two-day summit, which is the 45th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, include an opening session, a closed-door session involving the signing of community acts and decisions, reading of communiqué and a press conference.