Mr Abdoulie Janneh, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), a Gambian, Thursday paid a courtesy call on President Jammeh at State House.

Speaking to journalists after his audience with the Gambian leader, Mr Janneh said he was on a short private visit to The Gambia and decided to take the opportunity to pay a courtesy call on President Jammeh to brief him of his current position at the ECA. He assured the Gambian leader that the ECA will work closely with The Gambia, adding that they are also looking forward to the forthcoming African Union Summit.

He added that he briefed the President particularly on the conference of Africa Ministers of Finance and Planning, which just took place in Ougadougou, Burkina Faso.

With regards to the forthcoming AU summit in The Gambia, he said the UN will support immensely. According to him, the theme of the forthcoming summit is regional integration and they will be here to participate very actively and are looking forward to interesting, active and useful meeting that will come up with some interesting conclusions and recommendations as to how they can move the integration agenda in Africa. “It is a great honour for the country hosting African Union summit. It is important for Africa to get together to integrate because it is the only way that Africa will be able to achieve the level of development that Africans are looking forward to. Africans desire s united Africa, stronger Africa, bigger markets, among others,” he said.

According to him, this is the main area of focus for the commission, to help Africa to get together and integrate better.

He was accompanied to State House by the UN coordinator in The Gambia.