It would open the door to the countries in the economic bloc to effectively partner Morocco to undertake massive development projects to drive growth, create wealth and jobs.  This was contained in a statement issued and signed by Mr. David Agbee, Executive Director of GIGS, a copy of which was made available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA).

It hailed the move as “a bold and great commitment by Morocco to support the advancement of ECOWAS in the spirit of South-South cooperation”.  The North African Kingdom, has officially requested to join the regional bloc as a full member.

According its Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Ministry, this is intended to deepen and strengthen political, human, historical, religious and economic ties at all levels with ECOWAS member countries.

The request followed state visits to the sub-region by King Mohammed VI, culminating in the signing of numerous agreements to give impetus to bilateral cooperation. Morocco was recently admitted to the AU after decades of voluntary withdrawal from the continental body.GIGS noted that, its involvement in ECOWAS would bring a new dynamism and rallied the sub-region to ready to explore the development and investment opportunities.

It called for the political leaders in the sub-region to move quickly to admit Morocco into the bloc, to tap into its huge resources for the benefit of their own peoples.