ECOWAS: Economic Community of West African States

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ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States

• By Aakash Hathi and Swami Raman

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What is ECOWAS?

• Regional group of 15 West African countries.
• Founded on May 28th, 1975.
• 36 years old.
• Created by signing on the Treaty of Lagos.
• Its mission is to promote economic integration in
  all fields of economic activity.

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Members of ECOWAS
 The Republic of BENIN BURKINA FASO The Republic of CABO VERDE The Republic of COTE D'IVOIRE The Republic of GAMBIA The Republic of GHANA The Republic of GUINEE The Republic of GUINEE BISSAU  The Republic of LIBERIA The Republic of MALI The Republic of NIGER The Federal Republic of NIGERIA The Republic of SENEGAL The Republic of SIERRA LEONE TOGOLESE Republic
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History

• Idea came from President William Tubman of
  Liberia in 1965.
• Treaty of Lagos finally signed in 1975.
• In July, 1993, ECOWAS Treaty reformed.
• Changed from Secretariat to Commission.
• Designated one of the five regional pillars of
  the African Economic Community.

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Objectives

• To promote co-operation and integration in
  economic, social and cultural activity.
• Establish an economic and monetary union through
  the total integration of the national economies
  of member states.
• Raise the living standards of its peoples.
• Maintain and enhance economic stability.
• Foster relations among member states.
• Contribute to the progress and development of the
  African Continent.

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Objectives Continued

• Extend economic and political co-operation among
  member states.
• Create a common market and a single currency.
• Create a West African parliament.
• Create an economic and social council.
• Create an ECOWAS court of justice.

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Structure after Restructuring Secretariat

• Authority of Heads of State and Government
• Council of Ministers
• Community Court of Justice
• ECOWAS Parliament
• President and Vice President
• Seven Specialised Commissions

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Leadership

• Chairman Alassane Ouattara from Cote dIvoire
• President Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo from Burkina
  Faso
• VP Toga Gayewea MCINTOSH from Liberia

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Other ECOWAS Institutions

• Bank for Investment and Development (EBID)
• West African Health Organisation (WAHO)
• West African Monetary Agency (WAMA)
• West African Monetary Institute (WAMI)
• ECOWAS Youth Sports Development Centre (EYSDC)
• ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC)
• Water Ressources Coordination Unit (WRCU)

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Institutions Continued

• ECOWAS BROWN CARD
• The West African Power Pool (WAPP)
• The Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money
  Laundering and Terrorism Financing in West Africa
  (GIABA)
• West African Regional Health Programme (PRSAO)
• ECOWAS Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and
  Energy Efficiency(ECREEE)

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Advantages of Membership

• Integration of local economies
• Reduces trade barriers among member nations
• Enforcement of Rule of Law
• Increase in investment due to freer trade.
• Increased Government Revenue from trade.
• Possibility for higher standard of living
• Cooperation in broadening democratic process

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Disadvantages of Membership

• Decreased Sovereignty
• More legislative power given to ECOWAS
  Institutions
• Increased reliance on other nations for political
  and economic stability
• Decreased ability to be self-reliant
• Free movement of persons

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Imact of ECOWAS

• International trade increased from 10-30 in a
  span of 30 years
• West African Gas Pipeline Project (WAGP)
• Interconnection of national railway
  networks/Regional Airline
• INTELCOM programmes
• Promotion of Girls Education
• Loans and projects through the investment bank
• Coordination of resources in the area

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THE END
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WORKS CITED

• Akinyeye, Yomi, Boubacar Barry, and Pierre
  Sané. Nation-states and the Challenges of
  Regional Integration in West Africa. Paris
  Karthala, 2010. Print.
• "Assessment of the Impact of the Economic
  Partnership Agreement between the ECOWAS
  Countries and the European Union." Assessment of
  the Impact of the Economic Partnership Agreement
  between the ECOWAS Countries and the European
  Union. Munich Personal RePEc Archive. Web. 26
  Mar. 2012. lthttp//mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/13292/1
  /MPRA_paper_13292.pdfgt.
• "THE ECOWAS COMMISSION." THE ECOWAS COMMISSION.
  Web. 26 Mar. 2012. lthttp//www.ecowas.int/gt.
• "ECOWAS How Regional Integration Works in West
  Africa A Handbook for Journalists." ECOWAS How
  Regional Integration Works in West Africa A
  Handbook for Journalists. Web. 26 Mar. 2012.
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  008/iij/ecowas.pdfgt.
• "PROFILE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN
  STATES (ECOWAS)." PROFILE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF
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  lthttp//www.africa-union.org/root/au/recs/ECOWASPr
  ofile.pdfgt.
• Wang, Daniel Xiao. "The Impact of Economic
  Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) on
  Global Development." Helium. Helium, 13 Aug.
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