17th -19th January 2005:

President Yahya Jammeh returned to Banjul on Wednesday night from the Ghanaian capital city of Accra, where he was among 12 heads of state who attended the 28th summit conference of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.

Among its recommendations, the summit approved a common agricultural policy for the region, intended to ensure sustainable food security and decent remuneration for those engaged in agriculture, which is the
mainstay of the region's economy.

ECOWAS leaders also approved the revised master plan for improving electricity supply in the region through increased investment in generation and distribution. Also the establishment of a common regulatory regime known as the West Africa power pool which will institute power trading, reduce the cost of generation and facilitate private sector participation. So far only three countries including the Gambia have ratified the Ecowas energy protocol.

At the end of their deliberations, the summit elected as ECOWAS chairman President Mamadou Tanja of Niger, who takes over from President John kufuor of Ghana.