The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in its bid to focus on other significant programs which in the long run will bear fruits to the true meaning of its existence is targeting Liberia for the launch of its newly approved program “Youth Volunteer Program.”

As part of the introduction of the marathon project which seeks to take into consideration the interest of youths in the West African basin, ECOWAS yesterday conducted an extraordinary workshop at a local hotel to give Liberians the basic concepts and understanding of the initiative, which the government has already appreciated.

Officials of ECOWAS used the time to espouse other programs the organization has committed itself to in Liberia.

In his introductory remarks, the Special Assistant to the Special Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission in Monrovia, Mr. Roosevelt Jayjay indicated that besides the fact that ECOWAS has been involved in political and military interventions in Liberia’s conflict situation, the organization has been engineering all types of efforts to be “visible in many ways in Liberia”.

According to him, the organization has been funding about 20 small projects in Liberia in the tone of US$350.

“This idea of ECOWAS Volunteer Program is a first step in moving toward close to that initiative of ECOWAS to People. We look forward to genuine activities taking place in the post launching period next week to the consolidation program itself, and as the office of the Special Representative in Liberia, we will be fully involved in this, as a member of this coordinating council ensuring that the activities of the program consolidate and do bear fruits in Liberia,” he said.

“We hope that all stakeholders will concentrate and take heel of the various details of the programs so that they are capacitated to supervise it in a very serious and successful manner so that the case study and other vital information will come from Liberia.”

Before the Special Assistant to the Special Representative of the ECOWAS Commission in Liberia, the Acting Manager of the ECOWAS Peace Fund, Dieudonne’ NKEMA gave an insight into the program which is in line with that of the United Nations.

“What is bringing us together is to implement what we called the ‘ECOWAS Youth Volunteer Program” he said, adding that the program is in line with the UN Volunteer Assistant Program.

“The ECOWAS Commission has sent us to Liberia in order for us to undertake the activities leading to the ECOWAS Volunteer Program and also to be part of its launching.”

The launching program is due to take place in Monrovia with several dignitaries expected to form part of the demanding moment.

The Ministry of Planning and Economic Affairs which is collaborating with ECOWAS in the planning and implementation of the program thanked the organization for considering Liberia in the execution of most of its program.