By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Sept. 21, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has held discussions with Alex Soros, Chairman of the Open Society Foundations (OSF), on potential partnerships to support ECOWAS integration efforts.
The meeting took place in New York on Sunday on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, as the President began his engagements ahead of the global gathering.
A statement issued by Ghana’s Presidency said Mr Soros, an investor and philanthropist who had previously engaged with President Mahama, and the OSF were interested in exploring partnerships and providing support for ECOWAS’ integration efforts.
It said the meeting served as a precursor to a planned presidential roundtable engagement being coordinated by the Foundation.
The roundtable is expected to bring together a select group of presidents and chief executive officers of global foundations, including the Gates, Ford, Open Society, Hewlett Packard, Hilton, Rockefeller, Humanity United, Anglo American, Chandler and UBS Optimus foundations, among others.
The Open Society Foundations is a philanthropic network established by George Soros that supports initiatives related to democratic governance, human rights, justice, education and accountable institutions.
Through its grant-making and partnerships, the organisation works with civil society groups and other stakeholders on issues including democratic participation, social justice and the protection of fundamental freedoms.
The proposed engagement with ECOWAS could provide an avenue for exploring partnerships in areas of regional governance, institutional development and civic participation, subject to the outcome of discussions.
The engagement forms part of President Mahama’s diplomatic and development-related activities on the margins of the UN General Assembly.
GNA
Edited by Beatrice Asamani Savage