The President of the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) Commission, Omar Touray, said political stability, peace and security remain critical for West African countries to attract investment that will aid development.

He said the region’s fragile democracy and persistent security challenges have affected the risk rating of the region and the flow of foreign capital and intra-regional trade and investment.

He spoke on Sunday during the 64th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Abuja.

Mr Touray said ECOWAS has made the development of regional infrastructure and business-friendly policies a cornerstone of integration of the region.

He said the recently commissioned International Coordination Centre of the West African Power Pool in Abomey-Calavi, Benin Republic, is part of the body’s integration plan.

The project, supported by the European Union, now enables trade in electricity across the West African region.