Starting as a dream, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has now turned into a major initiative of regional cooperation and integration not only in Africa but also globally in ECOWAS. Ambassador of the Commission President Victor Gbeho speaks to Martin Luther in this interview in Abuja, Nigeria. Excerpts:
How do you think of ECOWAS after 37 years of existence?
We must tell you that ECOWAS has come a long way in the implementation of the nuclear objectives. But, as you know, these goals are not results or ends in themselves, and therefore must be pursued in order to achieve development and integration. Perhaps the history of ecoWAS’ journey will clarify things a little more. ECOWAS was founded on the 28th of May 1975 at the Lagos Treaty as a Regional Economic Community with a vision to create a single regional economic area in West Africa through integration and collective self-reliance. This is meant to be an economic space with a single market and a single currency capable of generating social and economic development and competing more vigorously in the global market of large trade ties and unequal forms of trade.
In the area of free movement of persons, goods and services, aimed at facilitating the integration of our economy and peoples, we have once again made considerable progress; now we have an ECOWAS passport that makes it easier for citizens of Member States to travel between them. The ECOWAS region remains the only region in Africa with visa free governance across national borders and the right to establish citizens in any Member State. We are currently working visa visitors coming to West Africa.
Even with energy, efforts are being made to increase the level of our combined generation, so that more than 30 percent of the population of West Africa can access energy at all times. We are working with the hope of a better situation in months rather than years, through projects such as those from the West African Power Pool (WAPP) to facilitate the distribution and management of electricity available in the region. The Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) based in Accra, Ghana is expected to create the best practices in the regulation of the electricity power sector and thereby create a climate for private investment.
We will also vigorously implement the West African Gas Pipeline project to produce and channel natural gas from Nigeria to other Member States of our Community including Benin, Togo and Ghana. The Commission through the recently created ECOWAS Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE) also increases the exploitation of alternative and inexhaustible energy sources in the region.
Our financial and fiscal reform programs seek to bring about the convergence of the macro-economics of the Member States’ economies. Achievements were recorded in 2009 with the adoption of the Road Map for the Ecowas Single Currency and the effective take-off of the Multilateral Surveillance Mechanism.
A huge infrastructural development has also been mentioned for both peace and security, to the extent that no active war is being waged in our country, nor is any capital of the State in power through the prevailing media.
The list goes on! But in a nutshell, responding to global trends, our regional organization, despite all the challenges, is undergoing major structural and strategic changes due to the irreversible movement from ECOWAS States to ECOWAS people under its Vision 2020 Project.
What have been the Organization’s biggest challenges so far?
Some of our biggest challenges relate to poverty, corruption and general insecurity in the country. Our region is still characterized by fragility and unpredictability, and is susceptible to revolutions despite the gains we have made in the democratization of the region. Government institutions remain weak, so greater efforts are needed, in collaboration with civil society and other partners, to address the factors of structural instability.
In this regard, they are making progress in building and strengthening institutions, reforming security systems to make them more amenable to popular control. and to human rights norms, to a greater separation of powers, to adherence to the rule of law and strongly established anti-corruption principles. The gathering of civil society in matters of government is not only useful, but also necessary.
Critical areas of intervention to address some of our challenges include reducing illiteracy and unemployment, encouraging Member States to diversify their economies and embrace macroeconomic discipline to reduce the impact of exogenous influences. We are also intensifying our efforts to protect democracy and good governance.
Although Mr. Alassane Ouattara was finally installed as the legitimate President of Cote d’Ivoire, what ECOWAS was doing (a) to strengthen peace in the country; and (b) to ensure that there is no replication of the post-election crisis in Cote d’Ivoire in any other country in the underground region?
Through the leadership of ECOWAS and the efforts of other international communities, His Excellency Alassane Ouattara assumed the role of legitimate President of Cote d’Ivoire. Fellow Heads of State and Government individually and collectively under the auspices of the ECOWAS Commission and other international platforms are available to him, the necessary support and assistance that he requires to carry out the task of government. Even before the inauguration, the ECOWAS Commission had undertaken a humanitarian demand assessment in Cote d’Ivoire and neighboring countries affected by the post-election crisis. Based on the outcome of that assessment, the Commission, in cooperation with aid agencies, provides the required humanitarian aid in the affected countries. We will continue to assess and monitor the situation so we can respond accordingly.
With regard to the consolidation of peace, the ECOWAS meeting with the new government in which an agreement was reached, that ECOWAS reaffirm the United Nations in its mandate to consolidate peace in both Cote d’Ivoire and Liberia. In addition, ECOWAS will continue to play a leadership role in controlling the flow and circulation of small arms and light weapons in the two neighboring countries emerging from the conflict. Finally, ECOWAS will continue to restrict the free movement of mercenaries in former conflict areas as well as generally exclude their bases or hideouts in West Africa.
You will also recall that three years ago under the new ECOWAS dispensation, three Member States, Guinea, Niger and Cote d’Ivoire, were suspended. Similarly, adherence to the principles of the Constitutional Concurrence Commission with respect to democracy and good governance yielded relatively peaceful, transparent and credible results in the conduct of the recent presidential elections in Guinea, Niger, Benin and Nigeria. We insist on these principles in line with international standards so that democracy takes a solid and irreversible root in our country.
What lessons, if any, have we learned from the Cote d’Ivoire experience?
ECOWAS is not alien to the prevention, management and resolution of socio-economic and political conflicts. It is common knowledge that in the 80s and 90s, our Community acquired an ineffable reputation for peacekeeping and conflict management and tenacity. . In these dark ages, when civil wars raged in our country, our leaders in wisdom established the peace of ECOWAS. The monitoring group (ECOMOG), which is not only to maintain, but also to establish peace. We are proud of this internationally acclaimed achievement. Today there is no active war going on in our country and this is mainly due to our proactive precautionary measures. A democratic culture is gradually taking root in the ECOWAS region, where all current Heads of State have either been democratically elected or confirmed in their positions through elections with varying degrees of credibility. While we do not claim perfection, I can assure you that no lesson will be lost by the Community in the maintenance of peace and security in our country and we will respond appropriately to the conditions and circumstances.
What is the initiative of the “ECOWAS People’s Commission”? How successful or otherwise was the project?
“ECOWAS of the People” is an initiative dear to our heart – a new direction for ECOWAS within the framework of Vision 2020. This means that all our policies and activities are people-centered. It is about the people, about common citizens. Do not forget that the entire purpose of ECOWAS is the overall welfare of its citizens, hence the transformation from ECOWAS States to ECOWAS People. It is clear where the emphasis is. When people begin to see that ECOWAS exists for their benefit, they are motivated to buy-in and take ownership of the integration process. The new direction is very clear to all our institutions and citizens. For example, citizens should make full use of the existing community Court of Justice and bring their cases for adjudication. Initially, only States enjoyed such a benefit, but today citizens who have problems even with their own countries can take them to the court of justice.
Assess the state and progress of regional integration measures in the country
I don’t know what you mean by “integration measures”, but there are five pillars of the ECOWAS Commission’s regional agenda. These are peace and security; a plan of harmony; promoting trade and investment; infrastructural development as well as democracy and good governance.
Take trade and investment, for example. The commission did much to promote private West Africa. In 2010 in Abidjan we organized the 3rdECOWAS Business Forum and some innovations included the establishment of new awards to encourage actors and promoters in the region.
To strengthen and deepen partnerships, the Commission continues to play an important role in the China-Africa and India-Africa Cooperation Forums. The main Heads of State summit between ECOWAS and Brazil was held in Cape Verde in 2010.
We also encourage individuals to participate in our annual trade fairs.
Significant progress has been made on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiated between ECOWAS and the European Union and will strengthen free trade through the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme. The objective of the scheme is to promote intra-Community trade through the removal of non-restricted and non-restricted barriers to imports and exports of products originating in the Member States.
In addition, actions aimed at finalizing the Customs Union since its adoption in 2006; and the West African Industrial Policy and Action Plan is being consolidated and will soon be adopted by our regional leaders.
In the development of infrastructure, various developments are being made to facilitate the transport route and transit through the approach corridor. These are financed by our partners, notably the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the European Union. Among the projects is the Lagos-Abidjan Corridor which handles about 70 percent of the regional road transit.
The Commission also received a concession of 63.8 million in cash from the EU, part of which goes into five joint panels with major corridors.
In fact success-story”>success-story”>success stories from our category in each of the five pillars of regional integration targets .
Recent incidents of prejudice and xenophobic attacks on ECOWAS citizens living or holding investments in other ECOWAS countries. What is ECOWAS doing to protect living and ECOWAS citizens, or doing business in other ECOWAS countries that are not originally doing their jobs?
We hold our ship’s protocol on the movement of free people, goods and services very sacred. We are also very particular about the respect of the inalienable rights of our community citizens, hence the existence of Community Justice. In addition, there are adequate provisions under various protocols and instruments against prejudice, whether national or intermediate.
The ECOWAS Commission takes serious exception to xenophobic attacks of any kind and whenever and wherever it is suspected or reported the leadership at all levels will take appropriate actions. The antennas of our Forecasting System are very active so that the Commission moves early enough to catch any potentially serious situation in the bud< /a>.
Ghana continues to vote in 2012, its first since oil pumping began. But in the run up to that chapter, even in the ruling Democratic National Congress, politics is threatening to heat up. Against similar tensions, which later degenerated into threats of war before and after the country’s 2008 election, what proactive strategies does ECOWAS have to overcome tensions?
As I said above, our protocols and instruments on democracy and good governance, as well as our zero-tolerance policy for usurpation of power, have a general application to all 15 Member States of our Community. You should also know that the observer missions to selected ECOWAS Member States are arranged. We have done this in Ghana before with excellent results and will continue to do so in the region and in other Member States in compliance with the mandate of the Region to assist Member States in organizing or observing elections. This is contained in the 2001 ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, a supplementary instrument to the Protocol relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security.
ECOWAS has implemented a fairly good road network across the country. What happens in the rail connection?
A lot has been done in infrastructure development. Blueprints were designed for regional networks and networks and funds were being recruited, mainly from Asia, for implementation. Today, it is possible to travel from the coastal city of Port Harcourt in Nigeria to Dakar, Senegal in the extreme northwest of the southern region. The challenge of illegal roads has been raised by corrupt law enforcement.
In particular, the Commission completed a study on the railway network in West Africa. This study has been supported by all levels (including the Directors General of the railway bodies in the Member States, the officials of the Ministers in charge of this type of transport and other policy makers). As follows, the contract was awarded for a more detailed technical, economic and environmental study on the Abidjan-Ouagadougou-Kaya-Dori-Niamey link which is the first priority.
We are also coordinating, in cooperation with the African Union Commission, a study on the Cotonou-Niamey-Ouagadougou-Abidjan site. An interim report on the study is due in September this year for approval by the Member States before the final report. These two studies are funded by the EU under the 9th Economic Development Fund (EDF). It must be added that the work of mobilizing the media for other studies in other links is ongoing.
What is going on in ECO?
ECO, as you know, is the name of the currency for the ECOWAS second currency zone, which includes Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. This completed the CFA zone of eight francophone States and Guinea Bissau. Both zones are part of the ECOWAS financial integration program.
The mechanism reviewed by the ECOWAS Directors of State and Government in December 2001 is intended to be a regional instrument to monitor the economic harmony and financial policies of the Member States and to intervene to achieve the goals, especially financial integration. common currency from 2020. In this regard, efforts are being made to create a monetary zone using a single currency managed by a common Central Bank within the framework of the ECOWAS Monetary Cooperation Program. In 2009, a coalition of policymakers including finance ministers and central bankers adopted a geographic path to the emergence of a second currency by 2015 and a single currency for the region by 2015. The road to monetary union is full of challenges; but the Member States asked the Council to bring about convergence in national economic policies and to facilitate a balanced economic and financial system.
So you see it’s been a rough ride to the effect of a single currency union in the country. But let’s keep running and committed.
What is the Commission’s ability to build in the monitoring of elections and to make its Election Specimen Mechanism more effective?
These things in life can always be improved, but we don’t know that our Choice Observation Mechanism is ineffective as your question suggests. In our general pursuit of excellence, due diligence is given to selected observers and monitors. Our spy missions are usually composed of highly qualified people with vast experience in the field. Missions are carried out by eminent personalities with international reputation. We have never set ourselves the highest standards in the interest of democracy and good governance or any other aspect of that matter. Remember that the election is a subject of international interest and in addition to our observers, various other countries and interest groups also send their own observers and monitors. Looking at the world, we can do no wrong in our country.
Aid to the French forces to pay the forces of Mr. Gbagbo post-electoral defiance put in Cote d’Ivoire? Doesn’t ECOWAS find this inconvenient?
As I said earlier, the post-election crisis in Cote d’Ivoire was resolved through the collective efforts of the international community, including the main ECOWAS, with the support of the AU and the UN and other partners. It is inappropriate to ascribe to a particular state or group.
You will recall that the crisis has been the subject of several extra-ordinary summits by ECOWAS Heads of State and Government as well as high-level crisis management meetings by the AU and the UN. So instead of a certain feeling of confusion that you are expressing, we at ECOWAS have every reason to associate ourselves with the success of the resolution of the crisis after the Ivorian election. We will help and support our member countries in the role of protecting democracy and good governance, because we see peace and security as indispensable for economic development and the achievement of our common goals of regional integration.
Mr. Gbagbo’s recalcitrance and casual French involvement in the removal of ECOWAS exposed the capacity to successfully undertake the kind of military intervention necessary to remove an incumbent president who refuses to step down after being ousted. What is ECOWAS capacity building in this area?
It is unfair to say that ECOWAS lacks the capacity or the will to act in Cote d’Ivoire. It bears repeating that ECOWAS has blazed a trail through ECOMOG in regional conflict management and resolution. Our secondary affairs in Liberia and Sierra Leone are still fresh in the international public consciousness. The Community Standby Force and Rapid Response Mechanism are very active. But because war is an evil wind with far adverse consequences that last far beyond the outcome of active combat, we are convinced that we have exhausted all proactive approaches to preventive diplomacy, leaving the use of force as a last resort. Our Member States are the most developed. From experience, force or violence upon a multitude of innocents where an exhausted plot might be encountered. We would rather err on the side of caution than recklessly invite the exorbitant and avoidable costs of rebuilding after war into our community. However, we maintain our leaders and governments through the application of the various protocols and tools that I mentioned above.
Which ECOWAS region envisages West Africa in the next 36 years?
I want to see that ECOWAS has sufficiently understood its objectives, as included in its treaty, to promote cooperation and integration, to establish a single regional economic space, accelerated socio-economic development and higher regional competitiveness in the global market. In other words, I would like to see the ecOWAS Community integration agenda implemented in five core areas – peace and security; a plan of harmony; promoting trade and investment; infrastructure development and to strengthen democracy and good governance.
In conclusion: I would like to affirm that we in the Commission were under no illusions about the enormity of the challenges facing us, but as our Community enters its 37th year, allow me to acknowledge. the founding fathers of our institution for their providence and vision. It is also necessary to propose the unwavering commitment, determination and sacrifice of all levels by the authority of Heads of State and Government, Ministers, Heads of various Community Institutions, Civil Society, the media, many partners and citizens. themselves Without contributions, support and collaboration, the ECOWAS project that has become a hallmark of regional cooperation and integration in Africa and the world would not have been possible. It is a rough road and the services have been shaken, but with goodwill and determination, the integration of West Africa, which began as a dream, is today a reality.
FINISH
