MONROVIA, Liberia — Businessman Benoni W. Urey has been named Liberia’s representative on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Business Council, according to a press statement reported by FrontPage Africa. The council is a regional private-sector platform chaired by Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote and intended to strengthen business participation in West Africa’s economic integration.
FrontPage Africa reported that Urey was selected after consultations across the region and that membership of the council is by invitation. The outlet quoted Urey as saying he intends to ensure Liberian businesses, particularly entrepreneurs and younger companies, have a voice in regional trade and investment discussions.
Urey is a founding shareholder of Lonestar Cell MTN, one of Liberia’s major mobile network operators, and has also been involved in agriculture and public service, according to the report. His appointment is a private-sector representation on a regional advisory platform, not a ministerial or other national government post.
What the ECOWAS Business Council is expected to do
ECOWAS describes the Business Council as a mechanism for bringing private-sector experience into the implementation of the regional market and the bloc’s economic integration agenda. Its priorities include regional investment, industrialisation, stronger trade among member states and wider participation by businesses in regional policy discussions.
In an October 20, 2026 update, the ECOWAS Commission said the council’s membership structure would include one representative from each member state, alongside two additional representatives from Nigeria. The Commission reported that five regional nominees and two Nigerian representatives had committed, and that an inaugural meeting was planned for late October or early November. That update did not identify the nominees by name.
The latest report on Urey’s selection does not confirm whether the inaugural meeting has taken place, nor does it specify his appointment term, the date on which his role formally begins or the council’s immediate work programme. Those details should be clarified by the council or the ECOWAS Commission.
What the appointment could mean for Liberian businesses
The appointment could provide Liberian companies with an additional channel to raise concerns affecting cross-border trade and investment. Issues such as transport and port costs, access to reliable electricity and finance, customs procedures, market access and the movement of goods are among the practical barriers that regional business cooperation is expected to address.
However, representation alone does not guarantee new investment, policy changes or projects for Liberia. The value of the appointment will depend on whether the country’s businesses can communicate their priorities through the council, whether those concerns influence regional decisions and whether progress is reported back to Liberian enterprises.
ECOWAS has separately outlined plans to mobilise private-sector investment for regional industrialisation, including work on industrial energy corridors and a regional electricity demand-and-supply assessment. The Commission’s October update said the Business Council would help mobilise business leaders and engage multilateral financial institutions in that effort.
Editorial verification note: This report is based on FrontPage Africa’s account of the appointment statement and official ECOWAS material describing the council’s structure and mandate. HeartTalk Network has not independently obtained the original appointment statement. The appointment term, formal start date and status of the inaugural meeting remain unconfirmed in the sources reviewed.
Sources
- FrontPage Africa — “Dangote Taps Urey for ECOWAS Business Council”.
- ECOWAS Commission — “ECOWAS Business Council Unveils Initiative to Mobilize Private Sector Investment for Regional Industrialization,” October 20, 2026.
- ECOWAS Commission — “ECOWAS Advances Operationalization of Business Council to Deepen Regional Economic Integration,” May 28, 2026.
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