The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has announced the appointment of Mr. Bertin Somé as the new Acting Secretary-General of the Parliament. The appointment was made by Speaker Mr. Sidie Tunis and was announced through an official statement issued by the parliament in Abuja.
Mr. Somé, who previously served as the Director of Parliamentary Affairs and Research, assumed the position on November 1st, succeeding Mr. John Azumah, who retired from active service. The appointment highlights Mr. Somé’s exceptional qualifications and his deep understanding of the institution.
During the official introduction of the Acting Secretary-General to the parliament staff, Speaker Tunis praised Mr. Somé’s remarkable qualities, emphasizing his expertise in human and managerial aspects and his comprehensive knowledge of the parliament’s operations.
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Before joining the ECOWAS Parliament in September 2009 as a Committee Clerk, Mr. Somé had an illustrious career in the National Assembly of Burkina Faso, where he held various significant positions. His attention to detail and his exceptional relationship with staff and parliament members were evident during his service as both the Committee Clerk and the Director of Parliamentary Affairs and Research.
The ECOWAS Parliament consists of a total of 115 seats and 14 standing committees. The allocation of seats takes into account each member state’s population, guaranteeing a minimum of five seats.
Nigeria holds the highest number of seats with 35, followed by Ghana with eight seats. Côte D’Ivoire has been assigned seven seats, while Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Senegal have six seats each. The remaining ECOWAS member states, including Benin, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Togo, hold five seats each.
