Salou Djibo, President of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and former president of Niger, met with ECOWAS Commission President Marcel de Souza to discuss their progress in the implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS). During a briefing session of the ETLS Task Force on 10 May in Abuja, they reiterated the Commission’s commitment to achieve economic integration. Read on

From 30-31 March 2017, the OECD hosted the fifth edition of the 2017 Global Anti-Corruption and Integrity Forum on the theme, ‘‘In the public interest: Taking integrity to higher standards.’’ Nigerian Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo participated as the keynote speaker. In his statement entitled, ‘‘United action is the key,’’ Osinbajo highlighted the immense challenges that corruption and illicit financial flows pose in developing countries. Read on

“Strengthening rural livelihoods in the face of rapid urbanisation in Africa” was the topic of a Brussels Briefing organised on 20 March by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), BMZ/GIZ and partners. Thomas Allen, from the Sahel and West Africa Club Secretariat (SWAC/OECD) participated in a panel discussion on rural transformation and job creation. His presentation argued that although the farming sector will continue to provide the most jobs, labour is increasingly moving out of farming, requiring people to develop different skills. Read on

Ghana is 60 years old. This birthday is an opportunity to review some of the country’s great achievements since it gained independence in 1957. Its first achievement is the country’s political stability. It has undergone several elections and changes of governments that were conducted without violence. In 2016, Ghana was ranked as the sixth most peaceful country in Africa and the 44th in the world. Read on