ECOWAS Urged to Fast Track Integration Processes
From Andy Ekugo in Abuja
As the 52nd session of the Economic Council Of West African States (ECOWAS) Council of Ministers ended in Abuja over the weekend, participating countries have been urged to work towards the actualization of the integration of the region.
This would be achieved through the Community Passport expected to take effect by 2005, Common External Tariff also billed for 2005, the Single Monetary Zone expected to take effect in 2007 and the integration of ECOWAS and UEMOA (Economic Monitoring Union of West Africa) by 2005 also.
Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku, Chairman of the Council and Ghana's Minister of Regional Cooperation and NEPAD who disclosed this in Abuja during the opening ceremony of the session, explained that for the benefit of the estimated 250 million people of West Africa, a realistic plan to facilitate "harmonization processes between ECOWAS and UEMOA as well as to prepare the private sector and the general populace to embrace the regional Free Trade Area concept" should be pragmatically pursued by all participating states.
He also urged that planned and sustained sensitization activities be accelerated in order to create awareness in the private sector and the general population on the Single Monetary Zone (WAMZ) concept.
Apraku said that the adoption of a single ECO currency by 2007 called for financial discipline in the management of participating states' economies to firm up macro-economic policies of members of the zone to meet the "convergence criteria," which was mutually agreed on.
He also called for the encouragement of intra-community trade, which is expected to enhance the free trade area under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS). This, he maintained, will lead to the creation of a Custom Union and a single regional market.
Dr. Ibn Chambers, ECOWAS Executive Secretary however decried financial constraints being faced by the community and urged that all levies be paid up by member countries to ensure regular flow of funds.
Nigeria Minister of Cooperation and Integration in Africa, Senator Lawan Gana Guba, called for the integration of women in the main stream of development and integration process in the sub-region. He said the needs of the ECOWAS Gender Development Center (EGDC), a specialized institute formed out from West African Women Association (WAWA) be considered as "gender matters and issues concerning our children deserve all necessary support we can give to attain the relevant objectives set forth in the revised treaty".
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