<<Print>>

Excellencies Heads of State and Government, Excellency, the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Excellencies Heads of other Delegations, Excellency Kadr� D�sir� Ou�draogo, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Commissioners of the ECOWAS Commission, Heads and Members of ECOWAS Institutions, Distinguished Invited Guests, Friends from the Media, Ladies and Gentlemen, The 45th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government is almost over. I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government or high Representatives for your engaging participation. I also wish to extend my thanks to every member of the accompanying delegations, observers and other invited guests for every role � whether big or small � that you have played. Excellencies, From last night�s informal but serious engagements through today�s all-day fruitful deliberations we have sought common ground and consensus in addressing critical issues and seeking solutions to some of the challenges confronting our sub-region. I wish to thank His Excellency President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali for the updates he has given us on the situation in Northern Mali. The situation is still fragile and ECOWAS leaders remain committed to and supportive of the Government�s efforts to keep Mali united, stable and secure. We support the Government�s position that the territorial integrity of Mali is non-negotiable. We continue to offer every support and solidarity to President Goodluck Jonathan and his Government in their efforts to defeat the terrorist activities of Boko Haram in parts of Nigeria. We have hope that the young school girls abducted by these terrorists will be freed unharmed and returned to their families soon. Excellencies, A major step was taken at this Summit to address in a firm and concrete manner the present danger of the Ebola outbreak in three Member States of our Community. A Fund to support the affected nations has already received immediate financial pledges and commitments. I wish to applaud the commitments of the leaders to support the West Africa Health Organisation and the affected countries. We have amended some protocols and decisions aimed at promoting the Free Movement of Persons, Goods and Services. On the issue of the introduction of ECOWAS Biometric identification cards for our Citizens � this has been adopted in principle, pending a security appraisal of the Member States. Excellencies, We are more than aware that every laudable decision taken here can only bear fruit when we start to take action and implement them. I wish therefore to urge all of us to take the necessary steps � at the national level - for the implementation of decisions to benefit our people. I wish, at this juncture, to commend His Excellency Kadr� D�sir� Ou�draogo, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Commissioners and Staff of the ECOWAS Commission and ECOWAS Institutions, particularly the conference staff, for the impressive reports, memoranda and related documents made available during the Summit. We thank you for all the hard work that has gone into organizing this Summit and for the hard work that will continue long after this Closing ceremony. To every one of you, I say THANK YOU, MERCI BEAUCOUP, and MUITO OBRIGADO. As we bring this Summit to a successful conclusion, I want to wish you Excellencies and your delegations, a safe journey back to your respective countries and homes. I am confident that the decisions we are taking, the efforts we are making and the dreams we are pursuing will soon yield good results for a better future for our people and our sub-region. On this note, I hereby declare the 45th Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, officially closed. Thank you.