The 25th meeting of the Administration and Finance Committee (AFC) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) opens today, 10th June 2019 in Abuja Nigeria.

The AFC will be considering the ongoing institutional reforms and memoranda on the ECOWAS Regional Stabilization Fund, Human Capital Development and the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority, among others.

Speaking at the opening, Madam Finda Koroma, the Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission thanked the AFC members for the guidance and support extended to the Management of the Commission in the execution of their mandate to the Community.

“A lot more needs to be done to make our institutions better service-oriented , if we are to deliver on the mandate handed down to us by our Heads of State and Government, which is to make the ‘ECOWAS of People’ a reality in the shortest possible time” she said.

Also speaking at the opening, Madam Halima Ahmed, the Commissioner for Finance, ECOWAS Commission informed members of the AFC that despite challenges the Department has been able to prepare the Community Consolidated Financial Statements for 2016 and 2017 financial years in line with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).

This she said “will not only raise our financial profile as a community, but will also reflect the real cost of our integration process”.

The Chair of the AFC and the Head of the ECOWAS National Office of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Musa Nuhu, while opening the meeting enjoined members to be objective as professionals in handling issues presented to them without sentiments.

The three-day meeting will close on the 12th of June 2019.