The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Olaf Scholz, has said plans are ongoing for his country to supply member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) with cheap electricity.
The Chancellor revealed this after meeting with Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, in Abuja on Sunday.
While acknowledging that Germany has stepped up its support for the West African bloc, Scholz also revealed that his country is working with ECOWAS on security, pandemic prevention, and the avoidance of coups in the region.
Acknowledging the increase in German support to the bloc, the ECOWAS Commission’s President, Touray, said the organisation had received support worth €81 million grant to address vital areas of development, including electricity from the German government.
He said the latest grant brings to €500 million total Germany’s support over a decade.
Touray affirmed that there is a plan to link electricity power production through West Africa from a centre in Cotonou in the Republic of Benin, noting that the project would allow West African countries to get electricity from a cheaper source,
“Recently, we have concluded an agreement to the tune of 81 million Euros that the government of Germany and the people of Germany have decided to grant to ECOWAS to support us in various areas.
“Those are vital areas, and as I have indicated, they cover areas such as peaceful and inclusive society, climate and energy transition, sustainable economic development, health, societal protection and population.
“These are important sectors, and we appreciate the support that Germany has given to us in these areas.
“The recent agreement has brought Germany’s support to ECOWAS over the decade to close to 500 million Euros,” he submitted.
Ada Peter
