Sherry Ayittey Gets New Appointment

Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, has been nominated to serve on the board of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)�s regional centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE). In a letter of appointment, the President of ECOWAS Commission, James Victor Gbeho stated that he was honoured to nominate Ms Ayittey to serve on the board to represent environment ministers in ECOWAS. In a statement signed by G K Scott, Chief Director for Ministry, he explained that ECREEE is a specialized ECOWAS Agency that acts as an independent body within the legal administrative and financial framework of its rules and regulations. He indicated that it is also the highest decision-making body and meets on a yearly basis to provide strategic guidance and approve the work plan and progress reports, among others. According to the statement, at the 9th meeting of ECOWAS Ministers for Energy in Bissau in 2008, a resolution to establish a regional centre dedicated for renewable energy and energy efficiency was adopted. �Following a successful completion of the preparatory phase, the centre was officially inaugurated in 2010 with Cape Verde as its headquarters,� he added. He stressed that the center comprises one representative of the ECOWAS Energy Ministers, one of the ECOWAS Commissions, three from Donor or Multilateral Agencies, one energy expert from the ECOWAS region and the Executive Director-Secretary. The centre is to improve energy security, increase access to modern energy services and support the region�s economic and social development in an environmentally benign manner through the promotion and use of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies in the ECOWAS member states. He further stated that the organization is also aimed at contributing to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in West Africa by providing at least half of the people with access to modern energy services using renewable energy and energy efficient technologies and services.