Key points
- ECOWAS has approved new appointments to key statutory and specialised institutions for the 2026–2030 term.
- Ghana’s Amin Suleiman was appointed Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation.
- The regional bloc also appointed five new judges to the ECOWAS Court of Justice and new heads for WAHO and other institutions.
- Nigeria requested an additional two weeks to resolve its nominee for the ECOWAS Vice-President position.
Main story
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has approved a new set of appointments to strategic positions across its institutions, including the appointment of a new Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation.
The appointments were endorsed at the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Lungi, Sierra Leone, and will cover the 2026–2030 tenure.
According to the summit communiqué, Ghana’s Amin Suleiman was appointed Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, a portfolio that oversees regional cooperation in transport, energy infrastructure and digital transformation.
The Authority also approved the appointment of four other commissioners: Francess Alghali of Sierra Leone as Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Dehpue Zuo of Liberia for Economic Affairs and Agriculture; Kalilou Sylla of Côte d’Ivoire for Internal Services; and Prof. Nassirou Bako-Arifari of Benin for Human Development and Social Affairs.
Regional leaders also appointed five new judges to the ECOWAS Court of Justice. They are Awa Bah (The Gambia), Charlyne Brumskine (Liberia), Désiré Aihou (Benin), Henrietta Didigu (Nigeria) and Yaouza Ouro-Sama (Togo), the current Chief Registrar of the court.
Other appointments include Carla Bettencourt of Cape Verde as Auditor-General of ECOWAS Institutions, Dr Palokinam Pitche of Togo as Director-General of the West African Health Organisation (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 accepted Nigeria’s request for an additional two weeks to conclude consultations on the ECOWAS Vice-President position allocated to the country.
The summit expressed appreciation to the outgoing President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, for his service and welcomed his successor, Gen. Birame Diop of Senegal.
The regional leaders said they were confident that Diop’s diplomatic and strategic experience would strengthen regional integration and help address the bloc’s emerging security and development challenges.
The issues
The new appointments come as ECOWAS seeks to strengthen regional integration, improve infrastructure connectivity, accelerate energy cooperation and address persistent security and economic challenges across West Africa.
What’s being said
“The Authority endorses the recommendations… relating to statutory appointments to positions in Community Institutions for the period 2026–2030.” — ECOWAS communiqué
What’s next
The newly appointed commissioners and institutional heads are expected to assume office as the terms of the current officeholders expire, with Nigeria expected to submit its nominee for the ECOWAS Vice-President position within two weeks.
Bottom line
By appointing new leaders to key institutions, including the Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation Commission, ECOWAS is positioning itself to advance regional infrastructure, energy integration and institutional reforms over the next four years.
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