By: Laymah Kollie
Liberia has fully settled its outstanding financial
obligations to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS),
according to Senator Edwin Snowe, head of Liberia’s delegation to the ECOWAS
Parliament. Speaking before the Liberian Senate on Thursday, Senator Snowe
praised the government’s commitment to honoring a previously signed agreement
with the regional body to clear arrears accumulated under past administrations.
“Liberia is now up to date with its monthly payments to
ECOWAS,” Snowe told the plenary. “There were arrears from the past, and Liberia
had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ECOWAS to gradually settle
those debts. We thank the government for rescuing Liberia’s image at ECOWAS.”
While he did not disclose the exact amount paid, Senator
Snowe emphasized that the country is now in good financial standing with the
institution.
In a related development, Snowe also announced that Liberia
has secured full backing from ECOWAS for its bid to obtain a non-permanent seat
on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). According to him, the regional
body has agreed to vote as a bloc in favor of Liberia’s candidacy.
“ECOWAS has endorsed Liberia’s candidacy for the UN Security
Council seat. This support is collective, and no individual member state can
alter that because ECOWAS will be voting as a bloc,” he stated.
Liberia, a founding member of the United Nations, is
currently campaigning for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council. Holding
such a position would elevate the country’s global influence, offer a platform
to advocate for national and regional interests, and provide access to critical
international security information.
He further disclosed that an ECOWAS delegation recently
visited Liberia to assess the possibility of establishing one of its
institutions in the country. He acknowledged that other West African
nations—such as Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Senegal, and Guinea-Bissau—are
also in the running, but emphasized Liberia’s unique position.
“Liberia is currently the only ECOWAS member state not
hosting an ECOWAS institution,” he said. “We will continue to make our case
strongly.
In furtherance, Senator
Snowe informed the Senate that he has officially communicated with ECOWAS
leadership about the resolution of the recent leadership impasse in Liberia’s
House of Representatives, confirming the election of Hon. Richard Koon as the
new Speaker.
