Civil Society Organizations advised

Mr Mouhamad Cheikh Cissoko, President of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) network in West Africa, has appealed to CSOs in the sub region to unite to be able to achieve a common purpose of developing West Africa. He said no individual or single organization could solve problems in the sub region, hence the need for unity especially among CSOs to facilitate its development. Mr Cissoko said this at the end of a workshop organized by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for civil society groups in the region. The workshop sought to solicit ideas from civil society members on an initiative dubbed "Community Development Programme," that seeks to involve ordinary West African citizens in decision making and activities of ECOWAS. Mr Cissoko advised fellow participants that: "The best way to be recognized in the world is to be at the service of others," urging them to be committed to their cause of serving the ordinary in their various countries. "If ECOWAS fails our various countries will also fail," he said and urged members to strengthen their networks at the regional level to make the integration of people into ECOWAS activities possible. Prof. Bamba N'Galadjo, Commissioner for Macroeconomic Policy, ECOWAS, said his organization was committed to make the integration process a success such that people at the grass root could be reached. "Development in the region should be the business of everybody hence the need for the participation process," he said and added the ECOWAS was ready to work with organized CSOs and urged the participants to strengthen the platform for collaboration.