The 50 years of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was marked on May 28 in Lagos, Nigeria, where the sub-regional economic bloc was inaugurated in 1975. As part of the celebration of the golden anniversary, West African leaders converged on Lagos where they reviewed the achievements of the organisation as well as reflected on its challenges. Consequently, they called for stronger ties with member states in a bid to tackle the challenges of the economic bloc.
Among the key speakers at the event were the Chairman of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government and Nigerian leader, President Bola Tinubu, former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), former Minister of External Affairs, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Chairman of the African Union Commission (AUC), Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, represented by Ambassador. Selma Malika Haddadi, and President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray.
ECOWAS was formed on May 28, 1975, following the Treaty of Lagos. Bilateral talks between Gowon, the then Nigeria’s military Head of State and his Togolese counterpart, Gnassingbé Eyadema, provided the nucleus for the establishment of the organisation. Subsequent discussions saw a group of 15 West African countries—namely Nigeria, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo – signing a treaty that established the union, majorly for economic integration on May 28, 1975. A revised version of the treaty was agreed and signed on 24 July 1993 in Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
The objectives of ECOWAS include the provision of economic co-operation among West African states in specialised fields such as transport, communication, agriculture, trade industry and liberalization of trade between member states. It also aims at improving relations between the member states; improving living standards of people in the member states and creating a customs union in the region.
ECOWAS equally seeks to promote industrial development and cultural interaction among member states. Protocols on the free movement of people, trade liberalisation, a common external tariff, and interdependence, promotion of human rights, social justice and good democratic governance were later signed by members to reinforce the economic fusion.
In its 50 years of existence, ECOWAS has made some achievements, including the free movement of trade and people among the member states of the region. Beyond the economic cooperation among member states, it has also helped to unite the people of the region and made them to speak with one voice in African Union (AU) and other regional bodies. It has equally promoted peace in the sub-region.
The Ecotour Action Plan of the body aims to develop and integrate the tourist industry of each member state. The union has also introduced biometric ID cards to facilitate cross-border movement and reduce identity fraud. The creation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) in 1979 to remove tariffs and facilitate intra-regional trade has enhanced greater economic integration in the sub-region.
The organisation has also played significant roles in ensuring peace in the sub-region through its peacekeeping force, the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), with member states occasionally sending joint military forces to intervene in the bloc’s member countries at times of political instability and unrest. ECOMOG has intervened and restored peace and democratic order in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, and The Gambia.
The 1981 declaration of political principles that emphasised the promotion of human rights and the rule of law has encouraged member states to embrace democracy as standard for governance. The 2001 supplementary protocol on democracy and good governance through the principle of zero-tolerance for unconstitutional change of government has made the adoption of multi-party democracy a condition for membership of the group.
Despite its achievements in the past 50 years, there are still more challenges facing the sub-regional economic body. It is sad that ECOWAS is still saddled with the unconstitutional change of government or the coup virus in some member states. It is still one problem that has defied solutions. The bloc has not been able to have a common currency for easy trade among members. Bad governance, hunger and poverty have been rife among member states.
The exit of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso from the bloc following the aftermath of unconstitutional change of government in their domains is the most daunting challenge for the body. No doubt, their exit will affect trade and services in the sub-region and weaken the $277.22billion trade of the union with the world. Besides, it could impact the total imports and exports of the economic region.
It will affect the African Continental Free Trade Area. Let ECOWAS leadership explore political and diplomatic options to bring them back to the fold. Having a united bloc will be most beneficial to all member states.