ECOWAS to Hold Anti-Terrorism Meeting in Ghana

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is scheduled to hold a week-long meeting from October 21 in Accra, capital of Ghana to discuss ways of combating terrorism along with drug trafficking, corruption and money laundering, the Pan-African News Agency reported on Tuesday.

ECOWAS Executive Secretary Lansana Kouyate told the agency in an interview that experts and officials from ECOWAS ministries of interior, justice and foreign affairs are expected to attend the meeting.

The problem of terrorism is to be on the top of the meeting's agenda.

"Terrorism in among issues, like HIV/AIDS pandemic and environmental problems, which can only be tackled through collective efforts by entire international community because they recognize no boundaries," the ECOWAS chief said.

Expressing sympathy for the bereaved families following the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, Kouyate said "this was a painful and unbearable tragedy."

He said the gathering will also examine measures to end child trafficking and other scourges.

The ECOWAS, which was founded in 1975 aimed for economic cooperation and integration, comprises 15 members, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.

( Xinhua News Agency 10/10/2001)