Leaders of West African countries have been urged to do more to arrest an increase in coronavirus infections to ensure that the prospects for the region's economic recovery from the pandemic remain on track.
At the 22nd session of the heads of state and government of the West African Economic and Monetary Union last week, Cote d'Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara said the pandemic had slashed the region's economic growth rate from 5.8 percent in 2019 to 0.9 percent in 2020.
However, Ouattara, who addressed the session via video on Thursday, estimated GDP growth could recover to above 5 percent in 2021 thanks to the responses to COVID-19.
