West African trade ministers meeting in Accra called for stronger regional integration, industrial development and the removal of trade barriers as they seek to boost commerce within a bloc where intra-regional trade remains below 15%.
Opening the Fifth Joint Meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Trade and Industry (ECOMOTI-5), Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, minister for trade, agribusiness and industry, urged member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to deepen cooperation and accelerate implementation of policies aimed at expanding trade and industrialisation across the region.
Speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, Ofosu-Adjare said West African citizens expect governments to build markets and industries capable of creating jobs and improving livelihoods. She said Ghana, as host of the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), remained committed to supporting initiatives that promote seamless trade and economic transformation across the continent.
“ECOWAS represents a market of more than 350 million people with a combined GDP approaching US$700 billion, yet intra-regional trade remains below 15 percent,” she said.
The minister attributed the low level of trade among member states to persistent challenges, including inadequate transport infrastructure, unreliable energy supply, multiple currencies, unharmonised customs procedures and non-tariff barriers.
She said non-tariff barriers continue to add between 15% and 20% to the cost of cross-border trade in West Africa through unnecessary checkpoints, duplicated certifications, and administrative delays, increasing costs for businesses and consumers.
Ofosu-Adjare called for greater collaboration in developing regional value chains, particularly in textiles, apparel, and automotive manufacturing, and urged governments to adopt policies that encourage local production, increase the use of regional inputs, and strengthen cross-border industrial partnerships under the AfCFTA framework.
The minister also reiterated support for key regional initiatives, including the West Africa Common Industrial Policy (WACIP) 2026-2030, harmonised food standards, the Cross-Border Consumer Protection Regulation, and the ECOWAS Common Investment Market, describing them as critical to improving competitiveness and building sustainable industries across the region.
Her remarks come as African countries seek to strengthen regional markets amid shifting global trade dynamics and heightened uncertainty in international commerce.
Addressing delegates, Ofosu-Adjare referenced outcomes from the Fourteenth World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé and stressed the importance of ECOWAS countries speaking with one voice in global trade negotiations to ensure multilateral commitments align with Africa’s development objectives.
Other regional leaders echoed calls for deeper integration and stronger implementation of existing trade agreements.
Amdiatta Diaby, Chairperson of the Committee on Trade, Customs, and Free Movement of the ECOWAS Parliament, called for stronger political commitment and more effective implementation of regional trade accords to accelerate economic integration and unlock greater economic benefits across West Africa.
Alpha Ibrahim Sesay, Sierra Leone’s Minister for Trade and Industry and chair of ECOMOTI-5, urged member states to safeguard the integrity of the ECOWAS Customs Union. He warned that bilateral trade arrangements that undermine the bloc’s Common External Tariff could weaken the region’s collective bargaining power and economic sovereignty.
Sesay said member states must work together to preserve regional trade frameworks and advance the economic development of the sub-region.
