Liberia Deputy Foreign Minister NyeI Calls for Quick Win and Tangible Projects
Monrovia, Liberia – Under the ECOWAS Cross-Border Cooperation Support Program (ECBCSP), Liberia’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister for Regional Integration, Mr. Ibrahim Al-Bakri NyeI, has called on ECOWAS National Technical Committee to develop concrete, quick-win projects that will improve the lives of local residents.
On Monday, April 29, 2024, at the ECOWAS Liberia Country Office on First Street Sinkor, he made the statement at the official launch of the National Platform for the ECOWAS Cross-Border Cooperation Support program, which is aim to facilitate free movement and migration within countries of the Mano River Union. He was speaking on behalf of the Liberian government.
The launch’s goals are to: increase cross-border cooperation; promote and consolidate peace, stability, and development; and develop knowledge about the dynamics of cross-border cooperation through capacity building, training, information, education, and communication (IEC).
Along with full support and implementation of the Social-Economic Development Initiative or local community development projects, the National Platform for ECOWAS Cross-Border Cooperation Support Program will also support actions in the areas of Migration Management, Free Movement, and Regional Security.
NyeI claimed that one of the busiest boundaries connecting social, economic, and cultural ties between individuals will be the ECOWAS Cross-Border Cooperation initiative, particularly between the two countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia.
The speaker observed that President Boakia’s ARREST Agenda aligns with the Cross-Border Cooperation of ECOWAS, which aims to cultivate peace and support the initiative of cross-border populations for stability and development.
”Going forward, let us put in place the Institutional Framework of various Member’s States Zones and the platform of key stakeholder and Member for full implementation of the cooperation.”
Josephine Nkrumah, the ECOWAS Resident Representative to Liberia, thanked the Government of Liberia (GoL) for agreeing to the regional request to establish a Technical Committee that will handle migration and development issues at the national level. She was speaking on behalf of her boss, the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture.
She praised the measure, saying that it especially helps regional initiatives that support the efficient implementation of the ECOWAS treaty on cross-border free movement.
She revealed that in order to guarantee social cohesion, regional construction, and sustainable development, the National Platform for the ECBCSP is a multi-sectoral development initiative that will collaborate with border communities, national, local, and civil society agencies.
In addition to managing migration and free movement initiatives that will empower local communities and individuals, the program will advance regional peace and security and strengthen cross-border collaboration, integration, and development.
ECBCSP’s target beneficiaries include women’s and youth groups, media networks, local authorities, municipalities, ECOWAS member states, border management agencies, joint commissions, local NGOs, civil society organizations, and media networks.
The main areas of focus for the ECBCSP intervention will be peace and security (conflict prevention, management, and resolution), migration, free movement and trade, and decentralized cooperation between the south and south in sectorial areas of development (agriculture, breeding, environment and natural resources, information, education-training, and capacity building communication (IEC), among other things.
”In addition, our work is to ensure the National Platform is formed and creditable members of the Platform are well delegated and committed to the enhancement of the South Regional Integration.”
The Authority of Heads of State and Government made a resolution in December 2006 that led to the development of the ECBCSP, a regional program, which was presented to Nimamey during its 29th regular session.
The ECOWAS Revised Treaty, the Protocols on the Free Movement of People, Goods, and Services, the ECOWAS Conflict Prevention Framework (ECPF), the ECOWAS Common Approach on Migration, and associated ECOWAS Common Migration Frameworks serve as the foundation for the ECOWAS Cross-Border Cooperation Program.
The Head of ECOWAS National office and Chairperson, Benedict D. Robert also thanked ECOWAS Commission for giving Liberia the opportunity again to set up a National Platform for ECBCSP. He extends warm greeting on behalf of Minister of Finance and Development, Mr. Boima S. Kamara.
The National Platform Committee, Josephine Nkrumah, the ECOWAS Resident Representative to Liberia, Benedict Roberts, the head of the ECOWAS National Office, and other team members were present during the launch.
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