Achievements of ECOWAS
• Creating the use of local inputs in industries in the region.
• Reducing foreign ownership of enterprises.
• Encouraging specialization along lines of comparative advantage.
• Creation of large markets that attract foreign investments.
• Enabling member states to benefit from cheaply run common services like airlines, telecommunication and transport.
• There is easy internal lending because of the trustworthiness.
• Enabling the free mobility of factors of production such as labour and capital within the region.
• Landlocked countries have got free access to the sea
• Encouraging competition of different firms from different states, which help in neutralizing the position of monopolistic firms.
• Removal of trade barriers has promoted trade.
• Getting arid of colonial boundaries to suit the political interests of people from West Africa.
• Natural hazards that affect the area are jointly addressed
• These states have even benefited politically because they can be heard more in international affairs. This is due to their unified voice for example OAU and the UN gave the group a Mandate to send to Liberia their peacekeeping force - Ecomog (Economic Commission and Monitoring Group) to monitor the peace process for the war torn Liberia. They left when Liberia settled down with elected democratic government.
• Its peacekeeping force, the ECOMOG managed to overthrow the military junta under Koroma and reinstated Tijan Kaba as a President of Sierra Leone who was democratically elected.
• ECOWAS aims to promote co-operation and development in economic, social and cultural activity, particularly in the fields for which specialised commissions are appointed to raise the standard of living of the people of the member countries.
• Trade and Monetary Union: Elimination of tariffs and other obstructions to trade among member states, and the establishment of a common external tariff are the major concern in this realm.
• Travel, Transport and Communications: Free circulation of the region's citizens and the rights of residence and establishment of commercial enterprises are the elements of the Protocol signed in 1979.
• Economic Development: A private regional investment bank, Ecobank Transnational Inc based in Lome, Togo is in operation to harness the investment potentials of the region. The Industrial forum sponsored by the organization is held every two years to promote regional industrial investment.
• Defence: A protocol of non-aggression was signed at the third Conference of the Heads of State and Government. In 1990 a Standing Mediation Committee was formed to mediate in disputes between member states.
• Energy: A work programme for energy development, involving a regional analysis of energy issues and plans for increasing efficiency and finding an alternative source was planned in 1981. The creation of an Energy Resources Development Fund was approved in 1982. Other plans in this area include a regional information centre and database to disseminate information on renewable energy resources and the construction of an ECOWAS refinery to supply refined petroleum products for the region.
• Agriculture: An Agricultural Development Strategy was adopted in 1982, aiming at sub-regional self-sufficiency by the year 2000. The strategy included plans for selecting seeds and cattle species, and called for solidarity among member states during international commodity negotiations. Seven seed selection and multiplication centres and eight livestock-breeding centres were designated in 1984.
• Social Programmes: Four organizations have been established within ECOWAS by the Executive Secretariat: the Organization of Trade Unions of West Africa, the West African Youth Association, the West African Universities Association and the West African Women's Association. The West African Football Union coordinates the region's soccer activities. Regional sports competition is held annually. A health organization was formed in 1989 by member states.
• Member States have committed themselves to the coordination and harmonization of national economic and financial policies in order to enhance the effectiveness of national structural adjustment and economic reform programs. The monetary program adopted by the Community has the medium-term objectives of achieving regional convertibility of the nine national currencies and, in the longer term, the creation of a single monetary zone.
• Meanwhile, an ECOWAS travelers check was launched in October 1998 to facilitate regional travel and commercial transactions.
• In addition to the above, the Community has been implementing such sectoral programs as the inter-connection of national electric grids and regional pipeline for the distribution of natural gas, Community seed production and cattle breeding centers, agricultural research program, regional master plan for industrial development, coordination of desertification control programs, rural water supply schemes, cooperation in health matters, establishment of equivalence for degrees and diplomas.
• In the Treaty, particular emphasis has been placed on promoting the involvement and participation of the private sector and the general public in the development and integration of the economies of the region. Already, the Community has encouraged the establishment and functioning of a privately-owned regional commercial bank (ECOBANK), Federation of West African Manufacturers Associations, Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce, West African Journalists Association, West African Youth Union, West African Women's Association, West African Road Transporters Union, etc.
• Reducing foreign ownership of enterprises.
• Encouraging specialization along lines of comparative advantage.
• Creation of large markets that attract foreign investments.
• Enabling member states to benefit from cheaply run common services like airlines, telecommunication and transport.
• There is easy internal lending because of the trustworthiness.
• Enabling the free mobility of factors of production such as labour and capital within the region.
• Landlocked countries have got free access to the sea
• Encouraging competition of different firms from different states, which help in neutralizing the position of monopolistic firms.
• Removal of trade barriers has promoted trade.
• Getting arid of colonial boundaries to suit the political interests of people from West Africa.
• Natural hazards that affect the area are jointly addressed
• These states have even benefited politically because they can be heard more in international affairs. This is due to their unified voice for example OAU and the UN gave the group a Mandate to send to Liberia their peacekeeping force - Ecomog (Economic Commission and Monitoring Group) to monitor the peace process for the war torn Liberia. They left when Liberia settled down with elected democratic government.
• Its peacekeeping force, the ECOMOG managed to overthrow the military junta under Koroma and reinstated Tijan Kaba as a President of Sierra Leone who was democratically elected.
• ECOWAS aims to promote co-operation and development in economic, social and cultural activity, particularly in the fields for which specialised commissions are appointed to raise the standard of living of the people of the member countries.
• Trade and Monetary Union: Elimination of tariffs and other obstructions to trade among member states, and the establishment of a common external tariff are the major concern in this realm.
• Travel, Transport and Communications: Free circulation of the region's citizens and the rights of residence and establishment of commercial enterprises are the elements of the Protocol signed in 1979.
• Economic Development: A private regional investment bank, Ecobank Transnational Inc based in Lome, Togo is in operation to harness the investment potentials of the region. The Industrial forum sponsored by the organization is held every two years to promote regional industrial investment.
• Defence: A protocol of non-aggression was signed at the third Conference of the Heads of State and Government. In 1990 a Standing Mediation Committee was formed to mediate in disputes between member states.
• Energy: A work programme for energy development, involving a regional analysis of energy issues and plans for increasing efficiency and finding an alternative source was planned in 1981. The creation of an Energy Resources Development Fund was approved in 1982. Other plans in this area include a regional information centre and database to disseminate information on renewable energy resources and the construction of an ECOWAS refinery to supply refined petroleum products for the region.
• Agriculture: An Agricultural Development Strategy was adopted in 1982, aiming at sub-regional self-sufficiency by the year 2000. The strategy included plans for selecting seeds and cattle species, and called for solidarity among member states during international commodity negotiations. Seven seed selection and multiplication centres and eight livestock-breeding centres were designated in 1984.
• Social Programmes: Four organizations have been established within ECOWAS by the Executive Secretariat: the Organization of Trade Unions of West Africa, the West African Youth Association, the West African Universities Association and the West African Women's Association. The West African Football Union coordinates the region's soccer activities. Regional sports competition is held annually. A health organization was formed in 1989 by member states.
• Member States have committed themselves to the coordination and harmonization of national economic and financial policies in order to enhance the effectiveness of national structural adjustment and economic reform programs. The monetary program adopted by the Community has the medium-term objectives of achieving regional convertibility of the nine national currencies and, in the longer term, the creation of a single monetary zone.
• Meanwhile, an ECOWAS travelers check was launched in October 1998 to facilitate regional travel and commercial transactions.
• In addition to the above, the Community has been implementing such sectoral programs as the inter-connection of national electric grids and regional pipeline for the distribution of natural gas, Community seed production and cattle breeding centers, agricultural research program, regional master plan for industrial development, coordination of desertification control programs, rural water supply schemes, cooperation in health matters, establishment of equivalence for degrees and diplomas.
• In the Treaty, particular emphasis has been placed on promoting the involvement and participation of the private sector and the general public in the development and integration of the economies of the region. Already, the Community has encouraged the establishment and functioning of a privately-owned regional commercial bank (ECOBANK), Federation of West African Manufacturers Associations, Federation of West African Chambers of Commerce, West African Journalists Association, West African Youth Union, West African Women's Association, West African Road Transporters Union, etc.
National Movements and New States in Africa