Africa’s Wealth: A Blessing or a Curse? ECOWAS Chief Calls for Governance Reforms
In a stark warning, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, has urged African nations to prioritize governance reforms to translate their vast natural wealth into tangible benefits for citizens. Speaking at the Sahel Governance Forum in Bijilo, Gambia, on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, Touray emphasized the need for accountability, discipline, and results-driven culture in both public institutions and society at large.
Touray commended the forum’s organizers, stating that the event was not just a platform for speeches but a call to action to address governance challenges in the Sahel region and across Africa. He stressed the importance of innovative strategies to foster social cohesion, build trust between citizens and the state, and reinforce democratic institutions that uphold accountability and efficient resource management.
“Governance is about accountability, discipline, and results,” Touray stated, warning that Africa cannot achieve sustainable development without embedding these principles in its systems. He cautioned against reducing governance to electoral processes alone, noting that true governance extends beyond the ballot box to include the delivery of results that improve citizens’ lives.
Touray painted a grim picture of Africa’s paradox of poverty amid abundance, pointing to resource-rich regions that remain underdeveloped due to weak governance. “Unless we fix governance, Africa will continue to sit on gold mines but remain poor,” he warned.
The ECOWAS President urged participants to leave the forum with a renewed commitment to transform dialogue into action, ensuring that policies and institutions drive meaningful social and economic progress for the people of the Sahel and the wider continent.
The Sahel Governance Forum, held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre, brought together leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to reflect on and address governance challenges in the region. As Africa continues to grapple with the paradox of wealth and poverty, Touray’s call for urgent governance reforms serves as a reminder that the continent’s future lies in its ability to harness its resources for the benefit of its people.
