By: George Cooper
Monrovia, Liberia – Bomi County Senator Edwin Snowe, who also heads Liberia’s delegation to ECOWAS, has formally written to the Senate, urging the country to bid for the hosting of an ECOWAS institution or agency.
In his letter to Senate President Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, Senator Snowe highlighted the ongoing withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from ECOWAS. He warned that their departure could disrupt several regional programs and result in job losses for ECOWAS staff from those countries.
He noted that the withdrawal would affect major projects, including food security programs, irrigation support, and the West Africa power grid, among others. Additionally, regional offices and institutions in the three countries could be shut down, leading to the displacement of over 130 ECOWAS staff.
To mitigate the impact, Senator Snowe believes Liberia is well-positioned to host one of the affected ECOWAS agencies. He stated that hosting an ECOWAS institution would create jobs and contribute to the country’s economic development.
Snowe revealed that discussions on the matter had already begun with Liberia’s Foreign and Finance Ministries. However, an official bid cannot proceed until ECOWAS concludes negotiations with the three withdrawing countries.
He has requested the Senate to mandate the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Ways, Means & Finance to work with the relevant ministries to push Liberia’s bid forward.
If successful, Liberia could secure a regional institution, boosting both employment and economic growth.
