Mano River Union states agree on post-Ebola economic revival plan

Presidents from the three Mano River Union member states who met in Guinea for an extraordinary summit, have adopted the post-Ebola economic revival plan, an official source in Conakry said Monday.

The meeting held in the Guinean capital on Sunday, brought together Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Sierra Leone's Ernest Bai Koroma and Guinea's Alpha Conde.

"The presidents from Mano River Union member states used the occasion to harmonize and consolidate the sub-regional documents as well as those of specific member state, which were prepared by their respective ministers," the statement said, adding that the "documents will be presented during the Bruxelles meeting on March 3, 2015 to mobilize the necessary support."

During the summit, the presidents appreciated the World Bank's proposal regarding establishment of a "Marshall Plan" for post- Ebola economic revival.

"They also appealed to the international community for direct budgetary support and cancellation of debt for countries affected by Ebola," the statement added.

The presidents further vowed to press on with the program dubbed "zero Ebola infections in 60 days" starting Feb. 15, 2015.

They noted that to achieve this objective, there will be need for collective political will which is necessary for creating an ideal environment to translate strategies into concrete actions. Endi