- The West African Power Pool (WAPP) has reaffirmed that access to electricity is a fundamental human right, calling for regional collaboration to meet growing energy demands.
- WAPP appointed Abdoulaye Dia from Senegal as the new Secretary-General and welcomed eight new power utility members to its General Assembly.
The West African Power Pool (WAPP), a specialised institution of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has reaffirmed that access to electricity is a fundamental human right. WAPP includes 14 of the 15 ECOWAS member states, namely Nigeria, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
The meeting, chaired by Mamadou Coulibaly, Minister of Mines, Petroleum, and Energy of Côte d’Ivoire, highlighted the critical need for regional collaboration to meet the growing electricity demands. In his opening remarks, Coulibaly emphasised that electricity access is a basic necessity and a human right. He called for joint efforts among ECOWAS nations, pooling financial and natural resources to address the challenges in the sector.
Coulibaly also stressed the importance of cross-border cooperation, describing energy as a resource that transcends national boundaries. He praised WAPP for its crucial role in fostering regional integration. He reiterated Côte d’Ivoire’s commitment to advancing energy production and sharing to support the increasing electricity needs within the ECOWAS community.
At the event, Mr Sediko Douka, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalisation, provided an update on ongoing initiatives to improve the electricity sector. He highlighted the importance of robust institutional and regulatory frameworks, infrastructure development, and better access to energy. However, he noted that challenges like the demand-supply gap and limited electricity access continue to hinder progress in the sector.
WAPP Chairman Sule Abdulaziz addressed the assembly and reaffirmed the commitment of member utilities to the organization’s vision. He announced the appointment of Abdoulaye Dia from Senegal as the new Secretary-General, marking the start of his three-year renewable term. Additionally, WAPP welcomed eight new power utility members into the General Assembly.
Earlier in the meeting, Nazif Abdukadir, Acting Secretary-General of WAPP, presented vital achievements, including successfully operationalising the Regional Market Information and Coordination Centre.