ing our relations in most areas with the outside world. We get together among ourselves first and foremost, and agree on certain principles. We ask the Ecowas Commission to lead in negotiat- ing with our partners on trade matters, for example. One recent example concerns China’s
Q A
“Ecowas is not a one-stop shop as such, but it is a centre for coordinating our relations in most areas with the outside world. We get together and agree on certain principles.”
make travel easier within the region. Indeed, there have been problems
faced by travellers but these are being gradually reduced as we are getting rid of the roadblocks and the many obsta- cles that have long concerned the travel- ling public. I have personally travelled on the road through the Seme border (Nigeria/Benin) to Aflao (Togo/Ghana), and so too have some of our officials, to check the situation. I have, myself, stood at the border crossing points to observe activities of officials and many people moving about. Tere are still problems, and in order
to overcome them, Ecowas has taken the decision to go into joint-border posts which would allow some borders to be manned by officials of two coun- tries. We are aiming at a customs union and at the same time a single immigra- tion tradition for the whole of Ecowas.
entry into West Africa. China had in- formed us that it was prepared to help with the building of infrastructure in Ecowas countries, but wanted to hold a certain organisation responsible. As a result, the Ecowas Commission has signed a master agreement with China, and through this effort China is help- ing Sierra Leone in developing energy sources. Recently, Ghana has signed an agreement with China for building roads and railways. Similarly, we are working on an ar-
rangement under the India-Ecowas cooperation for the private sector. Under the agreement, private sector personnel from the region will travel to India to meet their counterparts in many parts of India, visit their factories, inspect their products, and conclude arrange- ments for trade. Ecowas, in this case, is acting both as advisors and guaran- tors for the private sector to access the Indian market.
given that there have been disagree- ments at some points?
thing we are doing – in agriculture, peace building, and youth develop- ment because of historic links with the region. Despite these, we still have some negotiations to complete with the EU concerning the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). Tere is a decision that the African,
Q A
Caribbean and Pacific countries should come together in order to negotiate trade relations with the EU. Tese dis- cussions are still going on, and one of the first things we have agreed upon is that whatever agreement we come out
Te EU is our biggest partner and is involved practically in every-
What is the status of your deal- ings with the European Union,
In a sense, is Ecowas becoming a “one-stop shop?’’
It is not a ‘’one-stop shop’’ as such, but it is a centre for coordinat-
with should be compatible with the WTO requirements. However, we are of the view that
what is needed is to create a development fund for Africa into which we, together, contribute money for the development of our region.
leadership, has been concerned with measures against malaria and illegal drugs. What specifics are involved here?
Q A
For some time now, the use of mosquito nets has been popular.
Te fact that mosquitoes are prevented from entering the net but leſt free and not destroyed presents a problem. Elsewhere in the world there are pesticides that kill the mosquito larvae. Ecowas is seriously involved in this area, including hiring experts at the Commission to work on the menace of malaria. We are getting help from Cuba and Venezuela to build the necessary infrastructure to begin the eradication of malaria in the region. Similarly, efforts are being directed at
the trafficking of drugs. What is obvious to us is the increasing use of drugs by a segment of our populations. We realise that the trafficking has almost paralysed some of our member states, such as Guin- ea Bissau, which have suffered from weak government structures. Drug dealers tend to use some of these “soſt spots”. Tere are some states which are in self-denial about the increasing use of drugs, but we in Ecowas are determined to deal with the situation.
in line with this, the Authority took a strong position on recent events in Côte d’Ivoire, with support given to the winner of the disputed election. What steps are you taking to ensure that these things don’t repeat themselves?
Q A
I can say with full authority that Ecowas is implementing a Protocol
on Good Governance and Democracy to the extent that we observe all presidential elections in the region and make sure the votes count, and not only that, we ob- serve and help build the capacity for the elections and ensure that the results are respected by member states.
New African June 2011 | 59
Ecowas appears to focus on good governance and democracy and,
Besides integration matters, Ecowas of late, especially with your
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