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CONCEPT NOTE FOR THE ECOWAS SUB-REGIONAL WEEK

(23 RD – 29 TH APRIL 2006)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was formed in May 1975 by 16 independent West African states 5 . It is one of the largest economic communities in Africa bringing together Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone countries with diverse cultures and different levels of underdevelopment. ECOWAS was to offer its members a ray of hope towards addressing the sub-regional socio-economic and political problems.

The Community's central objectives are "to promote co-operation and integration leading to the establishment of an economic union in West Africa in order to raise the living standard of its people; and to maintain and enhance economic stability, foster relations among member states and contribute to the progress and development of the African continent" (ECOWAS 1993:7). Among the steps or measures to be taken to realize these central objectives was the establishment of a common market through: a) the liberalisation of trade by the abolition, among member states, of customs duties levied on imports and exports, non-tariff barriers in order to establish a free trade area; b) the adoption of a common external tariff (CET) and a common trade policy vis-à-vis third countries; and c) the removal between member states of obstacles to the free movement of persons, goods, services and capital, and to the right of residence and establishment (ibid.).

In 1990 the Community introduced the Trade Liberalisation Scheme (TLS) with the ultimate aim of increasing the volume of trade in the sub-region, which has been low in relation to the total ECOWAS trade with third countries. Before then, it had introduced limited measures to eradicate barriers to free movement of persons (e.g. the introduction of ECOWAS Travel Certificate).

Trade liberalisation involves the consolidation and harmonisation of customs duties and the consequent elimination of all forms of barriers within the member states of an integrating union and the imposition of a common external tariff (CET). It is a process that is facilitated through the articulate designing and implementation of policies by the Community, which requires the active participation of non-state actors (private economic operators).

This means that other enabling programmes such as the free movement of people, goods and services, and the right of residence for Community citizens to reside in any part of the Community must be put in place for the TLS to realise its objectives.

A number of criticisms have been levelled against the scheme among which:

The complexity of procedures for enterprise to benefit from the compensation account
The complex method of calculating members' contributions to the compensation budget.
The ECOWAS Secretariat and Fund lack the necessary power to enforce the scheme and to punish offenders.

However, the benefits of the scheme are believed to hold the key to the sustainable development of the sub region and poverty reduction. Some of the benefits are:

encouraging comparative advantage and specialization among members of the Community and industries;
encouraging economies of scale for enterprises within the Community;
that a tariff-free trade will reduce the dependence of ECOWAS countries on non-member countries, especially the advanced industrialised countries, on those industrial products for which tariffs have been reduced or eliminated; and
that a tariff-free trade will provide other alternative sources of raw materials for production, though largely unexploite

To work towards the free movement of persons, goods and services which is the ingredient to the implementation of the liberalization scheme within the sub-region, Oxfam GB (Ghana) with support from Comic Relief, UK is partnering with civil society organisations and government agencies in Ghana and Burkina Faso to implement a three year (May 2005-April 2008) market access programme between the two countries with the objective of building the capacity of farmers and producers of the two countries to add value to their products and to trade with each other. It also involves working with governments of the two countries to implement the protocol on free movement of persons, goods and services, especially the influence of physical barriers on trade.

The first year of implementation of the programme is drawing near and a week in April (23 rd –29 th) has been set aside to raise awareness and to sensitise the citizens of the two countries on the ECOWAS integration process. The objectives of the commemoration are to:

To create awareness on ECOWAS protocol on free movement of goods, people and services between Ghana and Burkina Faso

To strengthen collaboration among ECOWAS, governments, Civil Society Organisations and producer organisations of both countries

To strengthen collaboration between the government of Ghana and that of Burkina Faso

Activities during the week will include the following

Day	Activity
Sunday, 23 rd April	All churches deliver messages of the week to their congregations. This includes: i. All churches in the 7 FDAs ii. Fountain Gate, Bolga iii. Catholic Church, Navrongo iv. Catholic Church, Bolgatanga v. Pere Oudet, Burkina vi. Protestant churches, Burkina vii. Rev. Dr. Aboagye Mensah (with full media coverage) viii. Dr. Mensah Otabil
Monday 24 th April	Appearance on GTV or Metro TV Breakfast show with Burkinabe participation Joint launch of Trade Week and research reports at Navrongo Bicycle riders from both countries ride from Po and Bolga to present petitions to their respective governments at Navrongo to fast-track regional integration Signature collection during the launch
Tuesday, 25 th April	Procession through the principal streets of Bolga Bicycle riding competition between Ghana and Burkina Faso from Po to Bolga (to start at 7.am)
Wednesday 26 th April	Travel from northern Ghana to Accra and Ouagadougou
Thursday 27 th April	Simultaneous press conference in Accra and Ouagadougou (2 person from Burkina to be in Accra and 2 persons from Ghana to be in Ouaga
Friday 28 th April	Messages of trade week disseminated during Friday muslim prayers at: Burma Camp Legon mosque Ahmadi mosque (Maulvi Wahab Adam) Theatre forum in Ouagadougou
Saturday 29 th April	Musical concert at La Beach in Accra Ghana vs Burkina Faso match in Ouaga
Sunday 30 th April	What do you know on regional integration

All persons, civil society organisations, corporate bodies and governments officials of Burkina Faso and Ghana are invited to actively participate in the commemoration of this week with the theme: REGIONAL INTEGRATION: THE KEY TO POVERTY REDUCTION.