Mr Denise Kodhe, Director General of the Institute for Development and Leadership in Africa (IDEA) and former Presiding Officer of AU ECOSOCC, was honored with the Roll of Honour by the African Economic Social and Cultural Council (AU ECOSOCC) during the celebration of its 20th Year Anniversary held yesterday in Accra, Ghana.
Mr. Kodhe, who served as the Presiding Officer of AU ECOSOCC from 2019 to 2022, was recognized for his pivotal role in championing reforms and ensuring smooth transitions within the political leadership of ECOSOCC.
The gala event featured a keynote address delivered by H.E. Mousa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union, who commended Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for their significant contributions to peace and development across the continent. He highlighted ECOSOCC’s crucial role in coordinating the participation of CSOs and other non-state actors, as well as promoting various initiatives and activities throughout Africa under the AU framework.
Among the distinguished guests present were H.E. Timothy Kabba, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone; H.E. Mousa Mara, former Prime Minister of Mali; Mr. Khalid Boudali, Presiding Officer of AU ECOSOCC; and Mr. William Crew, Head of ECOSOCC Secretariat in Lusaka, Zambia, among other dignitaries.
The anniversary celebration underscored ECOSOCC’s commitment to fostering collaboration between African CSOs and the AU, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone for socio-economic progress and cultural development on the continent.