He takes over from Ivorian President Allasane Ouattara who was elected on February 17,2012. President Mahama is due to give his

acceptance speech at the ongoing 44th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in Yamoussoukro, Cote d’ Ivoire today.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic via telephone from Cote d’ Ivoire, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Hannah Tetteh, said President Mahama would be faced with the challenge to manage the ECOWAS integration agenda, including returning stability to Mali, but explained that the President was ready for the task ahead, reports Sebastian Syme.

She added that under the Mahama chairmanship, the Heads of State and Governments would work towards overseeing a peaceful and democratic elections in Guinea Bissau, which would eventually pave the way for the sanctions imposed on that country to be lifted.

On the signing of the controversial Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), Ms Tetteh stated that the Heads of State and Governments had in principle approved the agreement but Nigeria had some specific concerns.

On that score, she said a committee had been set up by the Heads of State and Governments, made up of Ghana, Nigeria, Cote d’ Ivore and Senegal, to look at the technical issues and report back to the Heads of State in two months.

It would be recalled that former Presidents J J. Rawlings and J.A. Kufuor chaired the ECOWAS at various times during their tenure

Source: Daily Graphic