Accra: Sierra Leone's Minister of Social Welfare, Melrose Karminty, presided over a high-level ECOWAS ministerial validation meeting on operationalizing the regional bloc's civil society framework. Held March 13, 2026, in Accra, the gathering united ministers and delegates from across West Africa to adopt foundational documents for the ECOWAS Economic, Social, and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC).
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, Minister Karminty welcomed representatives from the ECOWAS Commission and described the assembly as a pivotal stride toward embedding citizen voices within regional governance. Extending greetings from Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio, current Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, she underscored the imperative for institutional evolution amidst regional challenges. Karminty highlighted the need for ECOWAS to demonstrate capacity to adapt and strengthen ties between regional governance and citizens served.
Operationalizing ECOSOCC would establish a permanent platform for civil society, private sector actors, women, and youth to shape regional integration. 'Active participation in ECOWAS decision-making empowers these groups to influence policies impacting communities directly,' the Minister noted. She framed the initiative's broader objectives within democratic governance and social cohesion, urging member states to commit fully to citizen-driven, sustainable development.
Deliberations centered on adopting ECOSOCC's rationale, structure, mandate, and membership framework alongside draft legal instruments. Delegates endorsed a three-year work programme, an indicative budget, and a roadmap guiding the interim General Assembly to amplify civil society's policy role.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, praised Minister Karminty's leadership, recognizing the meeting as a milestone for citizen participation. He expressed gratitude to Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama and the nation for hosting. Representatives from Benin, C´te d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo participated, advancing ECOSOCC's alignment with ECOWAS Vision 2050 and long-term development goals.