ECOWAS Backs Okonjo-Iweala for WTO Election

The Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) has endorsed the candidacy of the former Coordinating Minister of Finance and Foreign Affairs, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, for the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General elections.

The endorsement by the 15-member-state regional group is a boost to Mrs Okonjo-Iweala candidature in the race following last week's decision by the African Union (AU) to reject her nomination.

The president of ECOWAS, Mahamadou Issoufou, who announced the endorsement in a statement dated June 19, 2020, said the decision was taken based on the authority of the Heads of State and Governments of its member-countries.

He urged other African countries as well as non-African countries to join in endorsing the candidature of the former World Bank's Managing Director, considering the need to field a strong and formidable African representative in the elections.

The ECOWAS president said the endorsement was informed by the communication by the chairman of the General Council of the WTO announcing Mrs Okonjo-Iweala as one of the four candidates nominated by their countries to vie for the position.

In reaching its decision to endorse Mrs Okonjo-Iweala's nomination, Mr Issoufou said ECOWAS took into consideration the fact that since the creation of the WTO no African has assumed the position of DG.

WTO which was created on January 1, 1995, was preceded by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) established on January 1, 1948.

"Having acknowledged the strong academic and professional background of Dr. Okonjo-Iweala and her very large experience in national affairs as Nigeria's Finance Minister (2003-2006) and Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister briefly in 2006," the ECOWAS President said.

This article was originally published by The Premium Times. Photo: The Premium Times