This was revealed by The Gambia’s Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs Seedy Keita at the side event of the ECOWAS Ministerial Meeting in Abuja last week.
The payment marks a commitment to financial responsibility and solidarity within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
“We stand with our heads held high that one of the most contentious issues has been the issue of the community levy,” he said. “And I’m pleased to report that The Gambia is one of the countries, I think it’s Gambia and Guinea Bissau specifically who have had no arrears of community levy among all member states.”
“We have upheld the spirit and the conditions of the community levy agreement and we do not co-mingle the community levy proceeds with our national resources, as we collect, we remit it to ECOWAS as per the existing protocols.”
He added that part of the discussions during the meeting was for other countries to model Gambia.
The community levy has been one of the fundamental topics of the Abuja meeting.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission during his speech urged member countries to meet their community levy responsibilities while explaining the financial challenges of the region.
The Gambia's adherence to its financial obligations underscores its dedication to supporting ECOWAS initiatives aimed at fostering economic development, political stability, and regional integration across West Africa.
By fulfilling its financial commitments, The Gambia not only strengthens its partnership with other member states but also enhances its standing within the ECOWAS community.
This achievement is expected to bolster The Gambia’s voice within ECOWAS decision-making processes and increase its capacity to participate actively in regional projects and programmes. As ECOWAS continues to navigate various regional challenges and opportunities, The Gambia’s contribution sets a positive example for other member states and reinforces the organisation’s collective efforts towards sustainable development and cooperation in West Africa.
