Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Hanna Tetteh on expressed the need for the West African sub-region to consolidate the peace to forestall the rising threats to the democratic processes and peace.

She said with five West African states- Nigeria, Togo, Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso- going to polls in 2015, it is important that all obstacles to peace and political stability are dealt with decisively and timeously.

Addressing the 33rd Meeting of the Mediation and Security Council of ECOWAS in Abuja, Ms Tetteh who is the Chairperson of the Council said efforts should not be spared to anticipate and quell any situation that would threaten the economic and social progress of the sub-region.

She noted that challenges to peace and security in parts of the region are gradually reducing as a result of several regional integration processes and interventions geared at achieving peace, security and economic development.

“We have positive indications that the work on peace and security in our sun-region will see great progress and will further enhanced by the work we are about to do here”, she said.

The meeting, a prelude to the ECOWAS Heads of State Summit scheduled for Monday, December 15, is aimed at reflecting on practical steps on consolidating development, democracy, peace and stability in West Africa.

President John Dramani Mahama, ECOWAS Chairman would address the Summit, where it is expected that the Heads of State would append their signature to the Economic Partnership Agreement with Europe.

Ms Tetteh gave the assurance that ECOWAS would continue to play a lead role in the process of ensuring that the security situation in Burkina Faso and the Sahel-Sahara region is resolved.

She expressed appreciation to member countries and the Authority of head of States, as well as the UN and AU representatives for their efforts at ensuring the region “becomes a haven of peace”.

The recommendations of the Council would be forwarded to the Head of States who would take a decision on the security issues confronting the sub-region.