Commemoration of the 48th anniversary of the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Burkina Faso
Commemoration of the 48th anniversary of the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Burkina Faso
From 21 May to 2 June 2023, a series of educational and sporting events was organised in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, a series of educational and sporting activities were organised to commemorate the 48th anniversary of the establishment of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) under the theme ‘Towards Shared Prosperity’.
As part of these celebrations, the ECOWAS Centre for Youth and Sports Development (CDJS/ECOWAS) collaborated with the ECOWAS Representation in Burkina Faso, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabè Abroad, and several Burkinabè sports federations to organise the programme.
Activities included the ECOWAS Cycling Grand Prix, the 9th edition of the football academies’ tournament, a boxing gala, an international pétanque tournament, a panel discussion on the free movement of goods and people, and an inter-school public speaking competition in Ouagadougou, which aimed to raise ECOWAS’s profile amongst pupils and instil in them, alongside public speaking skills, the values of peace, tolerance and civic-mindedness for the prosperity of the community.
As for football, eight teams took part in the 9th edition of the ECOWAS tournament for football academies, which began on 21 May and whose final, between the team from the German-Burkinabe Football Association (FOGEBU) and AS Elites, was played on 27 May at the grounds of the Union Sportive des Forces Armées du Burkina Faso (USFA), with the kick-off performed by the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Burkina Faso, HE Tiéna COULIBALY. Following the match, AS Elites were crowned champions with a 1–0 victory over FOGEBU. In addition to special prizes for individual and team performances, all the teams that took part in the tournament received footballs and kit from ECOWAS to bolster their equipment.
