The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) has pledged full support for Ghana’s implementation of a comprehensive Competition and Consumer Protection Law, reaffirming its commitment to helping member states establish transparent, fair, and competitive markets across the sub-region.
An 11-member high-level delegation from ERCA, led by Executive Director Dr. Simeon Konan Koffi, made the pledge during a courtesy visit to the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, in Accra.
The discussions focused on potential areas of collaboration and updates on ERCA’s ongoing engagement with ECOWAS member countries to harmonize competition frameworks and enhance consumer welfare.
The Minister commended ERCA for its leadership in promoting competition regulation and market discipline within the ECOWAS sub-region. She emphasized Ghana’s readiness to collaborate closely with the Authority and other regional institutions to address cross-border trade and competition issues that affect economic growth, consumer protection, and business competitiveness.
“The proposed policy forms part of the next phase of Ghana’s trade agenda, which seeks to enhance competitiveness and ensure that both businesses and consumers benefit from fair market practices,” she noted.
Dr. Koffi explained that the visit was part of ERCA’s regional outreach efforts to engage national governments on the importance of developing and enforcing competition and consumer protection frameworks. He highlighted ERCA’s continued commitment to building institutional capacity and creating a level playing field for businesses across West Africa.
“We are confident that under your leadership, meaningful and positive changes will occur toward the adoption of national competition laws and the establishment of a fully functional competition authority in Ghana,” he said.
Joining the delegation, ERCA Chairperson Dr. Juliette Twumasi-Anokye reiterated the Authority’s resolve to assist ECOWAS member states in fulfilling their obligations under Article 3 of Supplementary Act A/SA.3/12/21, which requires the adoption of competition legislation and the creation of independent national authorities.
Dr. Twumasi-Anokye also noted that the urgency for robust competition regulation has intensified in the wake of globalization and digital transformation.
The growing presence of multinational corporations and evolving consumer expectations, she said, make it imperative for countries to strengthen legal and institutional safeguards to promote fair trade and protect consumers from monopolistic and anti-competitive behavior.
The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their shared vision of a transparent, competitive, and investor-friendly ECOWAS market. Officials agreed to pursue deeper collaboration on policy alignment, capacity building, and regulatory enforcement to ensure that competition law becomes a cornerstone of the region’s economic integration and sustainable development agenda.
