ECOWAS Strategic Vision 2020
A Single Regional Economic Community Soon

The Heads of State of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have adopted “the ECOWAS Strategic Vision”, which seeks to convert West Africa into a borderless region where the citizens can create and avail themselves of opportunities for sustainable production by harnessing West Africa's enormous resources. The vision, worked out at a summit on 15 June 2007 in Abuja, foresees the creation of a region-wide space for people to transact business and live in dignity and peace under the rule of law and good governance.
The envisaged zone, which will be based on the guiding principles of citizen ownership, service, transparency, partnership, subsidiarity, results-based management and sustainability, will ultimately enable the region to move from an ECOWAS of states into an ECOWAS of people by 2020. It will also result in the transformation of existing integration structures at the regional and national levels into a single Regional Economic Community with coherent specialized agencies.
The short-term priorities of the region shall be the development of regional infrastructure, the enhancement of trade negotiation capacity, consolidation of peace and democracy, poverty reduction, faithful implementation of the Common Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP), the design of the Community Development Programme and the finalization and operationalization of the medium term strategic action plan.
The Heads of State and Governments welcomed the priority given to the development of infrastructure and called for special emphasis on energy and building of railroads in the region. They noted that the strategic vision should be popularized so as to obtain the buy-in of more stakeholders in the region. To this effect, specific regional projects should be costed and presented in a community development plan designed to generate employment opportunities for the West African youth.
The 32nd Ordinary Summit also adopted the interim report of the Commission for 2007, a synopsis of the achievements recorded by the Community and the recent challenges faced within the process of integration. The report showed that the region recorded a GDP growth rate of 6.1 percent in 2006, an increase over the 5.5 percent for the preceding year. They observed that the high prices of petroleum products continue to threaten the economies of the region and called for a study of the international oil market with a view to making proposals on how to mitigate the adverse effects.
The Heads of State and Governments also urged the Commission to devise new strategies and approaches for improving the existing low level of implementation of the regional trade liberalization scheme. They reaffirmed their commitment to the signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union, which reinforces regional integration, advances the production capacity of the region, assures market access for the products of the region and provides sufficient funding for the negative adjustment consequences of the agreement and is also WTO compatible.
On the common regional currency, the Heads of State and Governments called for a review of the current two-stage approach; they tasked the Commission to consult with the Ministers of Finance and the Governors of Central Banks and make recommendations on the way forward. After reviewing the security situation in the region, the Heads of State and Governments expressed satisfaction at the progress recorded in the implementation of the peace agreements in Cote d'Ivoire and Togo as well as the consolidation of peace in Liberia and Sierra Leone. They also expressed satisfaction with the current situation in Guinea.
While noting the fragility of the peace processes in some countries, they commended the efforts being made in Member States to promote democracy and good governance in the region.
The Heads of State and Governments noted that elections were becoming the norm in Member States and directed that ECOWAS continue to promote the sharing of experiences in the reform of the electoral systems and processes and the promotion of electoral good practices in the region.
The Heads of State and Governments discussed the drug menace in the region and pledged to work concertedly in the fight against drug trafficking and to provide support to Member States facing the scourge. They called for the support of the international community in building the capacity of Member States to deal with the menace of drug trafficking.
The leaders tasked the Commission to make recommendations on how to clear the arrears of contributions owed by some Member States.
The Heads of State and Governments paid tribute to President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, who leaves office later in the year, for his role in the promotion of the ideals of the community. They congratulated and warmly welcomed President Umaru Musa Yar 'Adua of Nigeria who was attending his first summit. They also expressed felicitations with Presidents Abdoulaye WADE of Senegal and Amadou Toumani TOURE of Mali for their reelection.
The Summit witnessed the swearing in of the President of the Commission, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, by the President of the Community Court of Justice, Justice Aminata Malle Sanogo. By taking the oath, Dr. Chambas undertook “to execute in all loyalty, discretion and conscience, the duties assigned to him with the exclusive interests of the Community in view.”
Earlier, the ECOWAS vision 2020 was discussed by the Commission at the 58th session of the Council of Ministers, held in Ouagadougou on 4 and 5 June, 2007.
This objective was embodied in the Regional Strategic Plan of the Community, presented by the ECOWAS Commission President Mohamed Ibn Chambas. The plan was based on the principles of ownership, transparency, partnership, subsidiarity and result-oriented management. The Council acknowledged the ECOWAS Strategic Vision as a framework for orientating West Africa's integration and development initiatives.
At the session, the ECOWAS Commissioners were sworn in by the President of the Community Court of Justice, Mrs. Aminata Malle Sanogo. By taking the oath, the Commissioners undertake “to execute in all loyalty, discretion and conscience, the duties assigned to them with the exclusive interests of the Community in view.”
In his address, Burkina Faso's Minister of Finance and Budget Jean-Baptiste Compaore, who chaired the opening ceremony, on behalf of the Chairman of Council, underscored the importance of the economic, social and political challenges of integration and development that must be overcome.
He expressed the hope that a dynamic and efficient Commission will make it possible, and that the ECOWAS Strategic Plan will lay the foundation for an integrated, prosperous and peaceful West Africa when implemented.
At the session, Commission President Chambas, presented the ECOWAS interim progress report for 2007. The report provides a synopsis of the achievements of the Community and the constraints encountered in the realization of the integration and economic development objectives.
The Ministers made relevant observations on the implementation of vital programmes, such as the free trade area and intra-Community trade facilitation programmes, the economic partnership agreement (EPA) negotiations, and the Regional Poverty Reduction Strategy.
Fruitful discussions were held on issues relating to macro-economic convergence, agriculture, energy, human resources development, peace and security, and the ECOWAS Strategic Plan. Council further focused on administrative issues and considered the draft agenda of the ECOWAS 32nd Ordinary Summit, which was scheduled be held in Abuja later in June.
The Ministers of Finance and Integration stressed the importance of the regional approach in the West African development process and reaffirmed Member States' willingness to embrace the ECOWAS strategic vision to give value-added to the integration and development of the region.
The ECOWAS Commissioners' meet was preceded by a retreat of the ECOWAS Ministers/development partners held in Ouagadougou on 2 and 3 June 2007.
Joining at the retreat were UNECA Executive Secretary Abdoulie Janneh, UNDP Director for Africa Gilbert Houngbo, the Directors for Regional Integration and Directors in West Africa of the World Bank and representatives of ADB. ECOWAS Commission President Mohamed Ibn Chambas, presented the strategic vision of ECOWAS for the integration and development of West Africa. The overall objective is to ensure sustainable development, poverty reduction, regional peace and security consistent with NEPAD and the Millennium Development Goals.
The ECOWAS ministers expressed their satisfaction with this retreat which provided an opportunity for stock-taking, an assessment of the way forward, and for setting priority objectives to be achieved in the area of integration by ECOWAS with the support of development partners. They underlined the fact that the regional approach is a necessary complement to national development initiatives aimed at fast-tracking growth and development in West Africa.
The ministers deplored the continued harassment of citizens on the regional highways and borders though several unauthorized checkpoints and extortions of travelers. The participants expressed satisfaction with the return of peace and stability to the crisis-ridden countries, a necessary condition for development. In this context, they called for the consolidation of the conflict prevention mechanism and the deepening of the democratic processes in the region.
The need for women, the youth, civil society and the private sector to take ownership of this vision was identified as a fundamental element for the realization of the region's integration and development objectives.
The Ministers expressed their gratitude to the development partners, especially the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the World Bank, UNDP and ADB, for their financial and technical assistance which had contributed to the progress made in the implementation of the regional priority programs.
The ECOWAS Ministers and the ECOWAS Commissioners called on the development partners, particularly the members of the G8, to replenish the IDA and to assist in the establishment of instruments for the financing of regional priority projects by the World Bank and other international finance institutions