The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, launched the National Centre for the Coordination of the Early Warning and Response Mechanism in Banjul. Il a aussi signé with the Gambian authorities a memorandum of understanding on the operations of the Centre and handed over a check for $20,000 in order to support the initial operations of the center.

The Vice President of The Gambia was represented at the launch ceremony by the Honorable Baboucarr Bouy, Minister for Public Service, Administrative Reforms, Coordination and Policy Implementation. According to him, the president also visited the ECOWAS representation style="font-family: "Bookman Old Style”, "serif">in Banjul where he met with Resident Representative Miatta Lilly French and office staff. He urged them to continue their good work with professionalism and assured them of the support of ECOWAS management .