23-07-08 A high-level ECOWAS delegation, comprising ministers from three member states and officials of the ECOWAS Commission, is in Trinidad and Tobago to explore the possibility of cooperation in harnessing West Africa's gas resources, the Commission said.
The delegation, which includes ministers responsible for energy, finance, trade and integration from Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria, will follow up on the January 2007 offer by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago to assist African countries in the development of their gas resources.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning made the offer in a historic address to the Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government and subsequently repeated the offer in a letter to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas. The five-day visit by the delegation, which also includes officials of the ECOWAS Commission, led by the President, Dr Chambas, will enable the team to have a greater appreciation of the development of the country's gas sector through local expertise, learn from the country's experiences and agree on specific areas of collaboration with the region.
Dr Chambas said the visit would enhance the effort "to build stronger relations between the ECOWAS region and the Diaspora."