Fifty-eight of the 164 member states of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have voiced support for a proposal from the African Group backing incumbent Director General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to serve a second term.
The 58 member countries of the trade association made this known at a July 22 meeting of the WTO General Council in a statement by the world trade body.
The statement reads partly, “The African Group requests that the current Director-General make herself available to serve a second term, and has proposed that the process of reappointing the Director-General should be started as soon as possible.
Okonjo-Iweala, 70, said she was very grateful for the support from members. “Everything that I’ve accomplished, we’ve accomplished together,” she said.
The director general said that she took the call of members very seriously and was favourably inclined. She however said she would get back to members very soon regarding her intentions.
The fifty-eight members, several speaking on behalf of groups of members expressed their support for the African Group proposal.
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They called on DG Okonjo-Iweala to make her intentions regarding a second term known as soon as possible.
Most of these members praised the DG’s hard work and her achievements during her first term.
Recall that Okonjo-Iweala, the seventh WTO boss, took office on March 1, 2021 for a single term of four years which will expire on August 31, 2025. She is eligible for a second term.
The former Nigerian Finance Minister navigated stiff opposition to become the first woman and the first African to serve as WTO Director-General. Before her current appointment, she twice served as Nigeria’s Finance Minister from 2003 to 2006 and from 2011 to 2015. She also briefly acted as Foreign Minister in 2006, the first woman to hold both positions.
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