Seven Heads of State confirm to attend ECOWAS meeting

Seven Heads of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS ) have confirmed attendance at the emergency meeting convened by President John Dramani Mahama in Accra today.

Although others may confirm later, a source from the corridors of power at the Flagstaff House, Kanda, told the Ghana News Agency on Thursday that, Presidents Ernest Bai Koromah of Sierra Leone, Dr. Thomas Yayi Boni of Benin, and Mr. Blaise Campaore of Burkina Faso, have already expressed their readiness to attend.

The source named Presidents Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, Alassane Quattara of La Cote d'Ivoire, Macky Sall of Senegal, and Ibrahim Boubacar Keita of Mali, as others to attend the Accra meeting.

Although no definite agenda had been rolled out for the one-day emergency meeting, GNA gathered that it would centre on the menace of Boko Haram in Nigeria, where over 200 school girls are being held hostage, and security measures that would ward off eminent attacks on the sub- region.

They would also discuss matters of urgent and mutual concerns in the West African sub-region, especially the situation in Mali.

President Mahama is expected to set the tone for the meeting, to pave way for a closed door-session that would give the leaders the opportunity to brainstorm on measures to curb emerging security challenges in the sub-region.

He is also expected to roll out his programme towards the betterment of the community during his tenure of office.

The meeting would serve as his first official assignment since his assumption of the Chairmanship of ECOWAS