ECOWAS Commission President Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo was conferred the title of Commander of the Order of the Mono by the Togolese Head of State Faure Gnassingbé on Wednesday 9 March instant in Lomé, Togo in the presence of Prime Minister, Komi Selom Klassou and several members of Government.

The distinction was conferred to Mr. Ouédraogo in recognition of his numerous and loyal services to the West African Community during his four-year tenure at the helm of the Commission.

During his tenure, West Africa made significant progress in regional peace and security as well as regional economic integration, said the Togolese Head of State.

Mr. Ouédraogo expressed gratitude to President Faure Gnassingbé for his personal support, but also for the great strides made by the West African Community.

He particularly alluded to the campaign against the Ebola Virus Disease, the resolution of major political crises that affecred the ECOWAS region, the finalisation of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) with the European Union and the adoption of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (ECOWAS CET).

«I would like to express my gratitude for this award which I dedicate to the Community Institution staff who work for integration in West Africa. I am very obliged to you and convey the gratitude of ECOWAS Institutions and staff to you for your contribution to regional integration», stated Mr. Ouédraogo.

Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo was honoured by Faure Gnassingbé in the wake of his imminent departure from the ECOWAS Commission at the end of his four-year tenure.

Appointed in February 2012, Mr. Ouédraogo succeeded Ghanaian diplomat James Victor Gbeho and assumed office as ECOWAS Commission President on 1st March 2012.

Having served previously as Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) and Deputy Executive Secretary of the then-ECOWAS Executive Secretariat, Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo was equally Ambassador of his country to Belgium and the European Union.