ECOWAS MINISTERS TO MEET IN MONROVIA ON MINERAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY egional Ministers responsible for the mineral sector in Member The 10-member Committee, to be headed by the ECOWAS States will meet on Friday, 8th October 2010 in Monrovia, Commissioner for Trade, Customs, Industry and Mines and Free Rto consider the draft ECOWAS Mineral Development Policy as Movement, will among other functions, ensure compliance with the well as the Report of the Concept Committee on the ECOWAS Mining & Directive by Member States, ensure the operation of the presidential Oil Forum (ECOMOF). advisory body within the framework of the application of the Directive th rd The draft Common Mining Policy (CMP) seeks to establish an and propose pertinent recommendations for the effective application of 27 SEPTEMBER - 3 OCTOBER, 2010 Vol. 26/2010 efficient legislative and regulatory framework that will ensure promote the Directive to the President of the Commission, in addition to preparing the integrated and harmonized development of ’s mineral a six-monthly report for the President of the Commission. resources so that they can benefit from the explosion in the global Members of the Committee will also ensure that the Directive is demand for minerals. published in the National Gazettes of Member States. ECOWAS PRESIDENT CALLS FOR PRIVATE Specifically, the policy aims to provide a common policy framework The ministers, who will be treated to some presentations, including that will promote the emergence of a competitive and integrated those on the Computerized Mine Cadastre Management system and the national and regional mining sector which will contribute to the UNDP capacity development project, will also consider the report of a SECTOR INVOLVEMENT IN ELECTRICTY SECTOR sustainable socioeconomic development of ECOWAS Member States. preceding experts meeting which will begin on Monday, 4th October lectricity demand in the 15 Member States of ECOWAS is C e n t r e f o r In addition, it will help create a mining environment conducive to the 2010 in Monrovia. sustainable macro-economic development within the region and ensure The experts’ report is expected to include a brief on the newly expected to record a quantum leap to 22,000 mega watts in R e n e w a b l e a balance between the necessity to establish incentives to attract established Concept Committee, in accordance with a regional E2020 from 6,500 MW in 2003, a growth rate of 7.6 per cent, Energy and investors and the need to protect the income base and resources of regulation to have a mining forum “as a framework for periodic meetings the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador James E n e r g y Member States in an environment conducive for attracting investments. and exchanges among stakeholders in the mining sector”. Victor Gbeho, said on Tuesday, 28th September 2010 in Abidjan at Efficiency. The ministers will also inaugurate the Ad-hoc Committee to monitor The Concept Committee is mandated, among others, to the opening of the third ECOWAS Business Forum. I n the implementation of the ECOWAS Directive on the Harmonization of harmonizing legal, regulatory and taxation instruments, promote and “This tremendous increase in the demand for power imposes a recognition of Guiding Principles and Policies in the Mining Sector of May 2009 and its develop small-scale and craft mining, developing Community responsibility on both governments and the private sector to the strategic accompanying plan of action in order to report to the President of the infrastructure as well as strengthening trade in mining and oil products. develop innovative and ambitious projects in the energy sector”, he role of the ECOWAS Commission. told the 450 participants at the forum which is on the theme, private sector “Harnessing Energy Resources to enhance the competitiveness of as a catalyst CITIZENS OF REPUBLIC OF CELEBRATE COUNTRY’S 50 INDEPENDENCE West Africa’s economy”. for growth, He attributed the demand to “industrialization and population Ambassador t a f f o f t h e E C O W A S growth”, acknowledging that in spite of the phenomenal growth, Gbeho said C o m m i s s i o n a n d t h e less than 30 per cent of the population of the region’s citizens have t h a t t h e direct access to electricity with wide disparities between the access Commission Swellwishers of the Benin level between the urban and rural areas while the traditional h a s , s i n c e Republic came out in their mass to biomass remains the main source of energy for the majority. 2 0 0 7 , celebrate the 50th anniversary of This deficit, he said, provides a challenge for the private sector engaged in a Benin with the country’s citizens which has the capacity to “contribute significantly to the growth of p r o c e s s o f working with ECOWAS in a very the sector” through scaling up its investment in this sector, providing engaging this financial support, leading the campaign to remove barriers and rigid s e c t o r b y c o l o u r f u l c e r e m o n y. T h e Ambassador James Victor Gbeho regulations that discourage investment, augmenting the campaign r e v i v i n g President of the ECOWAS Commission celebration showcased the culture, for substantial partner support and contributing to regional m o r i b u n d music, dances and cuisine of the initiatives that promote the convergence of policies. regional structures and creating new ones so that they deploy the Dahomey Kingdom. “In such circumstances, what we need now is to foster private muscle of this sector in support of regional development. sector participation in the energy sector”, he said, through the In addition, he said that the previous fora held in and “adoption of appropriate strategies, engaging with national provided the impetus for international engagements governments and relevant partners to invest in the energy sector”. with , the European Union and , the fruits of which West On its part, the President said the Commission has undertaken Africa is beginning to reap with their involvements in infrastructure various initiatives to stimulate investment in this sector, build development, mostly in Ghana, and . synergies and improve the regulatory environment through the Opening the five-day Forum, President Laurent Gbagbo, who establishment of the West African Gas Pipeline and Power Pool was represented by the Minister of Economic Infrastructure, Mr. projects as well as the creation of the Accra-based ECOWAS Banzio Dagobert, characterized the current energy situation in the Regional Electricity Regulation Authority and the Praia-based region as a “crisis” that requires that the region revisits its present “ No matter how violent the energy use and take various other measures to improve access. wind may be, it can never “In such circumstances, what we need now is to foster The President who has been in the forefront of a campaign for a force the river to flow private sector participation in the energy sector... regional fund for the backwards.” through the adoption of appropriate strategies, development of engaging with national governments and relevant r e g i o n a l …… Zimbabwe..….. partners to invest in the energy sector” infrastructure in order enhance its STAKEHOLDERS CALL competitiveness and facilitate intra- FOR STATE OF EMERGENCY Community trade and movement, IN WEST AFRICA’S said that in view of ENERGY SECTOR the emergency in the sector, there BURKINA FASO WINS was the need to INAUGURAL FREE MOVEMENT build on existing technology that EXCELLENCE AWARD AT would enable the THIRD ECOWAS r e g i o n i m p r o v e BUSINESS FORUM energy generation, distribution and REDUCING THE GAP availability. F o r t y - f i v e BETWEEN RESEARCH AND p e r s o n s w e r e DEVELOPMENT ACTORS A cross section of ECOWAS Officials h o n o r e d f o r “innovation and entrepreneurship” on Friday, 1st October 2010 during the award night for the Forum which came in three categories, one STAKEHOLDERS CALL FOR STATE OF from each Member State for a young entrepreneur for innovation in energy and a second one for entrepreneurship. EMERGENCY IN WEST AFRICA’S ENERGY SECTOR The third award was for the most outstanding he ECOWAS Commission should declare a decade of projects of the businessman from each Member State. emergency sufficiency that will encourage the W e s t A f r i c a n The best country in the implementation of the government of Member States to focus on the P o w e r P o o l Protocol on free movement of persons was also T honoured as part of the five-day Forum. development of this sector as a strategic priority because of its (WAPP) in the The awards are part of the efforts by the catalytic role in regional development. areas of power ECOWAS Commission to recognize innovation These were among the measures proposed by participants generation and the entrepreneurship as important tools for at the 3rd ECOWAS Business Forum which ended on Friday, 1st interconnection of enhancing regional competitiveness and October 2010, in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire and which focused on grids, the adoption development. the theme, “Harnessing energy resources for the o f a r e g i o n a l The theme of the 2010 Forum comes against competiveness of West Africa’s economy.” energy mix that the backdrop of the energy crisis that rocked the These measures will enable the region address the supply- exploits all the region in 2008, with the participants expected to Mr. Jean Louis Billo, President of Chamber of Mr. Dagobert Banzio, Representative Commerce and Industries, Cote d’Ivoire of the Ivoirian government side constraints hampering energy access in the region where region’s energy examine the ramifications of energy only 30 per cent of the population have access to energy but resources to meet management, particularly the region’s potentials, production, potential, challenges and opportunities in the energy sector in West demand is expected to significantly grow by 7.6 per cent to the fast growing distribution, marketing and policy. Africa, including financing options for energy-related projects; and 22,000 MW in 2020 from 6,500 MW in 2003. d e m a n d , t h e Participants were expected to agree on key structures for Harmonization of regulations and policies in the energy sector in The measures proposed by the participants will enable the development of Mr. Bayaornibe Dabire, ECOWAS Director for Energy ensuring the full involvement of the various sectors of the West Africa. region holistically address the dimensions of the challenge m i n i m u m Community, particularly the private sector, in tapping available The inaugural edition of the Forum was held in 2007 in Accra on through initiatives that will promote energy self sufficiency, renewable energy targets and the strengthening of the Centre resources for the benefit of the region. the theme, “Harnessing private sector energies for the challenges of address the business and policy environment issues as well as for Renewable Energy based in Praia, . Discussions during the Forum focused on three major topics - integration”, while the second edition took place in Ouagadougou on the financing mechanism. Other proposals will enable the region address the business Assessment of West Africa’s energy resources and implications for the theme, “Harnessing agricultural potentials and challenges in the It calls for the expeditious implementation of the priority business operations and economic development; Investment agro-business in the frontline”. and policy environment and calls for the creation of a regional framework to guarantee private sector investment in the sector, the implementation of capacity building programmes, the development and enforcement of local environmentally-friendly BURKINA FASO WINS INAUGURAL FREE MOVEMENT and energy efficient materials, the unbundling of the energy sector to private sector investors, the strengthening of EXCELLENCE AWARD AT THIRD ECOWAS BUSINESS FORUM mechanisms for public private partnerships and the ratification

st of the ECOWAS Energy Protocol. urkina Faso was on Friday, 1 t h e y c a n a v a i l t h e m s e l v e s o f awards marked the highlight of this year’s Among the other proposals are the provision of incentives to October 2010 named the winner of opportunities all over the region and annual Forum which was on the theme, encourage investment in independent power projects. Bthe inaugural free movement boost intra-Community trade to enable it “Harnessing Energy Resources to The participants also made suggestions to address the fund excellence award for its outstanding become a tool for stimulating the regional enhance the competitiveness of West constraints against investment in the sector, including ECOWAS implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol economy and promoting employment. Africa’s economy.” facilitation of donor support for such projects, the injection of on the Free Movement of Persons, Two other awards, one in the Young The inaugural edition of the Forum, funds in the rehabilitation of maintenance of existing Goods and Persons. Entrepreneur category and another, the which brings together stakeholders in the infrastructure, the mobilisation of local resources and the A representative of the country ECOWAS Innovation Award, were also region’s private sector to discuss various development of financing mechanisms for energy projects, received the cheque for $10,000 and a presented during the night. The Young aspects of the region’s economy, was Mr. Mahama Kappiah, Executive Director, ECREEE particularly for rural electrification. certificate during the award night of the Entrepreneurship Award was won by Mr. held in Accra while the second edition third ECOWAS Forum which also saw 45 Alain Capochichi from Benin while was held in Ouagadougou. other awards for ‘innovation and Lynays SARL, a REDUCING THE GAP BETWEEN RESEARCH entrepreneurship’. company based The country was cited for the in Cote d’Ivoire, elimination of harassment along the beat nine other AND DEVELOPMENT ACTORS borders, removal of non trade tariffs contestants to along their border route, removal of win the award. hat new avenues are there to institutional development. multiple check points and the effective Both winners e x i t t h e p r o b l e m o f O r g a n i z e d b y t h e E C O WA S monitoring of their highways to ensure r e c e i v e d underdevelopment in West Commission in collaboration with the the security of Community citizens. W c h e q u e s f o r Africa? European Union, the Ouagadougou The flagship Protocol was signed in $10,000 each The region will have to provide an symposium will highlight the importance 1979 by Heads of State and Government and certificates. appropriate answer to the question as of research for development. as an instrument to facilitate the intra- T h e nearly 200 researchers, academicians, Participants will be expected to make Community movement of citizens so that i n a u g u r a l A cross section of the high table representatives of civil society relevant recommendations on the new organizations, the private sector, regional approaches to development which will be and international institutions partook in presented to the President of the Burkina the opening of a three-day workshop on Faso, BlaiseCompaore, on behalf of the 3rd October 2010 in Ouagadougou. Heads of State and Government of The participants, most of whom are ECOWAS. African experts of international renown, In attendance at the opening will brainstorm on seven major themes, ceremony were the Vice President of the namely, the history and development ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Jean De context of Africa, the crisis of development DieuSomda, who chaired the meeting, the model application since independence, Head of the Delegation of the European the relationship between growth and Union in Burkina Faso, Mr. Amos Tincani, Mr. Jean De Dieu Somda, Vice-President, ECOWAS Commission, development, development and poverty the ECOWAS Commissioner in charge of reduction, integration and development, macroeconomic policy, Professor Professor MoustaphaKasse, Honorary social capital and human resources as Lambert Bamba N'Galadjo and other Dean and Chairman of the Scientific Some of the Awardees displaying their certificates well as the different approaches to prominent academics, including Committee.