Pres. Sirleaf attends 47th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, at the head of a nine-member official Liberian delegation, arrived in Accra, Ghana to attend the 47th Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader and delegation, including the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Dr. Edward B. McClain, Jr. and the Establishment Coordinator of the Angie Brooks International Center (ABIC), Cllr. Yvette Chesson-Wureh, were received at the Kotoka International Airport by Ghanaian Vice President, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur.

This is the fifth time that President Mahama is hosting an ECOWAS summit in Accra since becoming the Chairman of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in Accra, Ghana. 

 The Executive Mansion says the Liberian leader is attending the summit meeting at the invitation of Ghanaian President John Mahama, who is also Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS. 

The release said though the agenda of the meeting was not immediately released, it is believed to be centered on issues of common interest and security challenges affecting the sub-region.

Also on hand to receive President Sirleaf and delegation were Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Liberia’s Acting Ambassador to Ghana, Musu Ruhle and an array of senior Ministers in the Mahama administration.

Earlier on touchdown, the Liberian President was welcomed in the traditional Ghanaian style with a bouquet of flowers and later a 21-gun salute befitting treatment accorded Heads of State amid cultural performances at the airport. President Sirleaf later retired to her hotel suite.

Later in the evening, she attended a closed-door dinner for colleagues attending the 47th Session of ECOWAS Authority gathering hosted by President John Dramani Mahama. 

 Meanwhile, while President Sirleaf is away from the country, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs. Julia Duncan – Cassell will chair the Cabinet in collaboration with Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr. Edited by Jonathan Browne