Monrovia, Liberia – Liberia has officially won the proposal to host the ECOWAS Youth & Sports Development Centre (EYSDC), a significant regional organization associated with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). In view of recent institutional relocations brought on by the withdrawal of some Member States from the regional bloc, the ECOWAS Commission launched a competitive selection procedure that resulted in the decision.
The announcement was greeted with great gratitude and a revived sense of pride in Liberia by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which spearheaded the country’s application to host one of the ECOWAS institutions that had been abandoned. H.E. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, expressed sincere appreciation to the ECOWAS member nations.
For Liberia, this is a momentous time. “We reaffirm our commitment to regional integration and youth empowerment and are honored to be entrusted with hosting the EYSDC,” Foreign Minister Nyanti remarked.
The Foreign Minister recognized the crucial role played by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., who is the primary creator of Liberia’s foreign policy and whose steadfast backing was essential to the bid’s success. She expressed her gratitude to the president for having direct contact with the vetting team that came to Liberia to evaluate the country’s preparedness.
Additionally, she acknowledged Dr. Ibrahim Nyei, the Deputy Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration, and his team for their strategic leadership during the process. Also, special appreciation were given to Cllr. Cole Bangalu, Minister of Youth and Sports, who made sure that Liberia’s technical proposal represented the nation’s ability to host such an important institution.
In keeping with Liberia’s larger economic diplomacy goal, the Foreign Minister also praised Mr. Morley Kamara, the President’s Economic Advisor, for his support of the bidding process. The General Services Agency (GSA) received praise for efficiently supervising and coordinating the infrastructure and logistical information contained in Liberia’s application. Additionally, the Minister thanked Senator Edwin Snowe for his support of Liberia’s bid to host a regional institution.
Liberia expressed interest in hosting three of the four ECOWAS institutions that were previously housed in Member States that had left the regional bloc: the Water Resources Coordination Center (WRCC), the ECOWAS Youth & Sports Development Center (EYSDC), and the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO).
Côte d’Ivoire was chosen to host the WAHO, Guinea will host the WRCC, and Guinea-Bissau will host the RAHC out of the 12 bidders. Liberia has made a major diplomatic and regional involvement achievement by being chosen to host the EYSDC.
The successful proposal offers long-term advantages in the fields of youth involvement, education, sports diplomacy, job development, and regional visibility in addition to improving Liberia’s reputation in the ECOWAS community.
The Liberian government calls on development partners and stakeholders to assist the next stage of implementation and reiterates its preparedness to facilitate a seamless and timely transfer of the Center’s activities and facilities to Monrovia.
Liberia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, it will keep looking for and seizing any chance to reposition and rebrand Liberia according to the Boakai-Koung ARREST agenda.
