ECOWAS Communication Officers Chart New Course for Vision 2050 at Strategic Retreat in Banjul.
By Raymond Enoch
In a strategic shift to revolutionize regional communications within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the regional institution commenced a four day strategic retreat in Banjul, The Gambia, for its communication officers from the ECOWAS Institutions and Agencies.
Organized by the ECOWAS Directorate of Communication in partnership with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), the retreat brings together key communication professionals from across the region to enhance their expertise in strategic, digital, and impact-oriented communication. This landmark gathering also aims to lay the foundation for a unified ECOWAS Communication Strategy that aligns with the organization’s transformative Vision 2050.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Abdou Kolley, Director of Cabinet at the Office of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, emphasized the retreat’s pivotal role in the region’s communication evolution.
“This retreat marks a major milestone in our collective journey,” Mr. Kolley stated. “It builds on the foundations laid during our last Communications Retreat in Lagos in 2024 and now moves us into a new phase—the development of a comprehensive ECOWAS Communication Strategy, fully aligned with the goals and spirit of Vision 2050.”
Representing the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, the ECOWAS Resident Representative in The Gambia, H.E. Miatta Lily French, formally declared the retreat open. In her address, she highlighted the broader implications of the initiative.
“This is not merely a training program,” H.E. French noted. “It is a strategic turning point, a moment to re-imagine, re-examine, and recalibrate how ECOWAS communicates to the world. Our messaging must reflect our mission and inspire unity, progress, and shared identity among our people.”
Adding international perspective and support, H.E. Klaus Botzet, the German Ambassador to The Gambia, delivered a goodwill message underscoring the retreat’s alignment with ECOWAS’s regional integration goals. He reaffirmed GIZ’s commitment to supporting regional development through effective communication and capacity building.
This Banjul retreat comes at a time when regional institutions are under increasing pressure to connect more effectively with citizens, address misinformation, and leverage digital tools to convey their vision. With the upcoming ECOWAS Vision 2050 placing a strong emphasis on people-centered development, enhanced communication will be crucial to achieving the organization’s long-term aspirations.
The workshop will include hands-on sessions, strategic planning modules, peer exchanges, and the initial drafting of the new ECOWAS Communication Strategy. By the end of the retreat, participants are expected to have a shared blueprint for delivering coordinated, compelling, and inclusive communication across the ECOWAS region.
As the region moves forward, this Banjul gathering represents a defining moment—an affirmation that ECOWAS is not only strengthening its policies and programs but also reshaping the way it tells its story to the world.
