THE 53rd ordinary session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, scheduled to take place on July 31, 2018 in Lomé, Togo, will also feature the swearing-in of Jean-Claude Kassi Brou of Cote d’Ivoire’s as the new president of the regional organisation.

It was at the end of their 52nd ordinary session held on December 16, 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria, that the West African leaders allocated the position of ECOWAS Commission president to Cote d’Ivoire.

They also approved the appointment of Jean-Claude Kassi Brou to the position for a term of four years, effective March 1, 2018.

Until his appointment as president of the Commission, Brou was Cote d’Ivoire’s minister of Industry and Mines since October 2012.

From 1991 to 1995, he served as Economic and Financial Advisor to the Prime Minister of Cote d’Ivoire. In 1996, he was appointed chief of staff to the prime minister, a position he held until 1999. During that period and along with his duties, he chaired the country’s privatisation committee.

Brou also spent eight years at the Central Bank of West African States, BCEAO. He successively held the positions of director of International Relations and director of Economic Studies until 2005.

He subsequently headed the Economic Studies and Currency Department, before being appointed Special Advisor and Comptroller-General from 2007 to 2008.

He was also the World Bank Resident Representative for Chad from 2010 to 2012.

The new ECOWAS principal holds a PhD in Economics, an MBA in Finance from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio, US, and a Master’s degree from the National University of Cote d’Ivoire.

He began his professional career at the International Monetary Fund, IMF, in 1982, first as Senior Economist and then worked in Senegal, from 1990 to 1991, as IMF Resident Representative.

Brou authored one article: “Adjustment Program in Senegal” (IMF Survey, 1988) and a book, “Privatisation in Cote d’Ivoire: Challenges and Practices” (Paris, L’Harmattan, 2008).

He is fluent in French and English, and understands Portuguese and Spanish.

Jean-Claude Kassi Brou is married with two children.

July 27, 2018 @ 18:19 GMT|