- ECOWAS received a €81 million grant as support from Germany to address vital areas of development, including electricity.
- The latest grant brings to €500 million total Germany’s support over a decade.
The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Olaf Scholz, has said Germany is working with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to provide cheap electricity to member states. Scholz disclosed this during a press conference after meeting with the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, in Abuja yesterday.
Scholz said his country is also cooperating with the ECOWAS in other areas, including pandemic prevention, security and prevention of coups in the region. He added that Germany had recently increased its financial support to the bloc. Speaking earlier, Touray said the organisation had received support from the government of Germany for a €81 million grant to address vital areas of development, including electricity.
He said this latest grant brings to €500 million total Germany’s support over a decade. Touray said there is a plan to link electricity power production through West Africa from a centre in Cotonou in the Republic of Benin. In addition, he said the project would allow West African countries to get electricity from a cheaper source. According to him, this translates to more affordable electricity within the bloc.
“Recently, we have agreed to the tune of 81 million Euros that the government of Germany and the people of Germany have decided to grant ECOWAS to support us in various areas. Those are vital areas, and as I have indicated, they cover areas such as a 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 added.