Weaknesses of ECOWAS

•    ECOWAS has failed to institute a common monetary unit for the member countries.
•    ECOWAS has failed to remove high tariffs between member countries especially in the trade and customs and excise departments among member nations.
•    Free movement of labour and other factors of production like capital is still far from reach.
•    The standard of living among the citizens of the member states is still very low especially those located in dry Savannah.
•    Failure to get rid of foreign ownership of large business companies.
•    Differences in ideological and colonial backgrounds of the member states.  After independence, some countries adopted socialism; others took capitalism.  Some countries are attached to the Anglophone, Francaphone while others are Lusophone.
•    Failure for member countries to provide agreed financial contributions to the organization’ secretariat in Lagos.
•    Small and poor states fear the dominance of Nigeria especially with the influence of ECOMOG.
•    Most of the industries and other enterprises are owned by foreigners such as the British, Americans and Japanese who put more influence on the economy.
•    Ecowas failed to solve the problem of civil wars and political conflicts among member countries. Sierra Leone has been unstable for long and yet the problem comes from Liberia.
•    Total failure to implement most of the projects identified. Most of the declarations stop on paper with any implementation.

National Movements and New States in Africa