The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has approved a fresh set of appointments into key positions across its institutions for the 2026–2030 tenure, signalling a new phase in the regional bloc’s leadership.
The decision was announced in a communiqué issued after the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Lungi, Sierra Leone.
The appointments cover five commissioners for the ECOWAS Commission, five judges for the ECOWAS Court of Justice, an Auditor-General for ECOWAS institutions, and a new Director-General of the West African Health Organisation (WAHO).
According to the communiqué, the Authority endorses the recommendations from the Ninety-Sixth Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers relating to statutory appointments to positions in Community Institutions for the period 2026–2030.
The newly appointed judges of the ECOWAS Court of Justice are Awa Bah of The Gambia, Charlyne Brumskine of Liberia, Désiré Aihou of Benin, Henrietta Didigu of Nigeria, and Yaouza Ouro-Sama of Togo.
The regional leaders also approved a new team of commissioners.
They included Francess Alghali of Sierra Leone for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Dehpue Zuo of Liberia for Economic Affairs and Agriculture; Kalilou Sylla of Côte d’Ivoire for Internal Services; Amin Suleiman of Ghana for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation; and Nassirou Bako-Arifari of Benin for Human Development and Social Affairs.
Other appointments include Carla Bettencourt of Cape Verde as Auditor-General of ECOWAS institutions, Palokinam Pitche of Togo as Director-General of WAHO, and Mam Jallow of The Gambia as Director-General of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa.
The Authority also granted Nigeria an additional two weeks to conclude consultations on the ECOWAS Vice-President position allocated to the country.
The summit paid tribute to the outgoing President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, for his service and welcomed Senegal’s Gen. Birame Diop as his successor.
Expressing optimism about the transition, the Authority said it had confidence in the incoming president’s ability to strengthen regional integration and tackle emerging challenges.
The summit was chaired by Sierra Leonean President Julius Bio and attended by several West African leaders, senior regional officials, development partners and business representatives.
