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Stella Omona
The 96th Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Council of Ministers opened in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on Thursday, with ministers from across the region deliberating on key political, security and economic issues ahead of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government Summit.
The two-day meeting, which runs from July 16 to 17, serves as a preparatory session for the ECOWAS Heads of State Summit scheduled for July 19 in the Sierra Leonean capital.
At the session, according to a statement on Friday, the ministers reviewed the financial situation of the regional bloc and examined memoranda covering the security and political situation in West Africa.
They also considered the proposed 2027–2030 Action Plan on the return of cultural property to countries of origin, as well as measures for the operationalisation of the ECOWAS–ECOSOCC framework aimed at strengthening engagement with civil society within the Community.
The Council is expected to make recommendations on the issues discussed for consideration by the Authority of Heads of State and Government during Sunday’s summit.
