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Former Executive Secretaries

Vera Songwe
Ms. Vera Songwe
Cameroon
2017-2022
Dr. Vera Songwe is from Cameroon. She was appointed by Secretary-General António Guterres as the ninth Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) at the level of UN Under-Secretary-General on 17 April 2017. Upon her appointment, she became the first woman to have served in this...
Mr. Carlos Lopes
Guinea-Bissau
2012 - 2016
Dr. Carlos Lopes was appointed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as the eighth Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, at the level of UN Under Secretary-General, in September 2012. Dr. Lopes previously served as Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and...
Mr. Abdoulie Janneh
Gambia
2005 - 2012
Mr. Abdoulie Janneh is from the Gambia. He was the Under- Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) from 2005 to 2012. Before joining ECA, Mr. Janneh served as Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Africa from June...
Mr. Kingsley Amoako
Ghana
1995 - 2005
Mr. Kingsley Y. Amoako is a national of Ghana. He was the Under- Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) from 1995 to 2005.Dr. Amoako began his career in 1974 at the World Bank, becoming the Bank’s Director for Education and Social Policy...
Mr. Layashi Yaker
Mr. Layashi Yaker
Algeria
1992 - 1995
Mr. Layashi Yaker is from Algeria. He was the Under- Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) from 1992 to 1995. Mr. Yaker is an economist, and a career diplomat. Prior to joining the United Nations, he had a rich diplomatic career in...
Mr.Issa Diallo
Mr.Issa Diallo
Guinea
1991 - 1992
Mr. Issa Ben Yacine Diallo is a national of Guinea-Conakry. He was the Under- Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) from 1991 to 1992. Mr. Issa Diallo is a political economist and a career diplomat. Before joining the ECA, Mr....
Mr. Adebayo Adedeji
Mr. Adebayo Adedeji
Nigeria
1975 - 1991
Professor Adebayo Adedeji is from Nigeria. He was the Under- Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) from 1975 to 1991.  As an African leader and an unrepentant believer in African integration and development who has had a singularly...
Mr. Robert K.A Gardiner
Mr. Robert K.A Gardiner
Ghana
1961 - 1975
Mr. Robert Gardiner is a national of Ghana. He was the Under- Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) from 1961 to 1975. Mr. Robert Gardiner began his career at the Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where he taught...
Mr. Mekki Abbas
Mr. Mekki Abbas
Sudan
1959 - 1961
Mr. Mekki Abbas was born in Sudan. He was the first Under- Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) from 1959 to 1961. Prior to that, he was Managing Director of the Gezira Scheme, a million-acre development project operated on behalf...