Lomé, January 17, 2024 – (©AfreePress)- In a public statement released on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, the ECOWAS Commission has brought attention to an attempted fraud orchestrated by a supposed « Regional Development Cooperation Agency (RDCA), » falsely representing itself as one of its entities to attract funding from donors.
According to the statement provided to the AfreePress news agency, this fraudulent organization has been caught using the ECOWAS brand and images of personalities from the regional organization to seek financial support from development partners.
‘The ECOWAS Commission has observed that an organization calling itself the Regional Development Cooperation Agency (RDCA) uses the ECOWAS brand and images of ECOWAS personalities to seek support from development partners, including GIZ/German Embassy and the Italian Embassy. A quick examination of its website reveals its intention to deceive individuals and organizations by using the ECOWAS brand and images of ECOWAS personalities to make them believe that it is an ECOWAS entity acting for and on behalf of ECOWAS,' » the statement indicates.
Faced with this deception, the ECOWAS Commission emphatically emphasizes that the entity in question, the Regional Development Cooperation Agency (RDCA), is in no way affiliated with ECOWAS.
« ECOWAS has NO affiliation with the said organization, » the statement specifies.
The official note from ECOWAS also underscores that a formal call has been made to the alleged RDCA, urging it to immediately cease these fraudulent practices.
« ECOWAS reserves the right to take appropriate legal action against this usurping organization, » concludes the statement.
Raphael A.
