ECOWAS Evaluates Liberia’s Bid to Host Regional Institutions

Monrovia, Liberia: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs  has welcomed a high-level Technical Assessment Team from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission as part of Liberia’s bid to host one of the regional bloc’s permanent institutions.

The eight-member delegation arrived in Liberia on April 24, 2025, for a four-day mission aimed at evaluating the country’s proposed facilities and overall readiness to accommodate key ECOWAS agencies. These include the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO), the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Center (EYSDC), and the Water Resources Coordination Centre (WRCC).

Speaking on behalf of the Liberian Government, Deputy Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration, Dr. Ibrahim Nyei, expressed the country’s strong interest and preparedness to host the institutions.

“Liberia stands ready both in infrastructure and political will to play a greater role in regional integration by hosting these important ECOWAS institutions,” Dr. Nyei said.

The delegation, led by Mr. Seydou Kassoury Bangoura, Director of Administration and General Services at the ECOWAS Commission, conducted inspections and held technical meetings over the course of the visit, which concluded on April 27, 2025.

The visit follows Liberia’s formal submission of a hosting bid in March 2025, after ECOWAS invited applications from member states to accommodate agencies previously headquartered in countries that have withdrawn from the regional body. The withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger has prompted the relocation of several ECOWAS offices.

According to official communication from the ECOWAS Commission, the assessment focused on premises suitability, logistical arrangements, and institutional support systems.

Deputy Minister Nyei highlighted that Liberia’s bid reflects its deepening engagement in regional affairs and its commitment to ECOWAS’ goals of integration, peace, and development across West Africa.

The Government of Liberia remains optimistic about the outcome of the assessment and reaffirms its full support for ECOWAS’ ongoing efforts to strengthen regional institutions.