ECOWAS Parliament Charts Path for Unified Economic Front Under AfCFTA

The ECOWAS Parliament is advocating stronger positioning of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to deepen regional integration and boost economic growth among member states.

This was a key highlight at the official opening of its First Extraordinary Session held in Abuja, Nigeria. The session is being convened under the theme: “Deepening Regional Integration Through the African Continental Free Trade Area: Opportunities and Challenges.”

The operationalisation of the AfCFTA was presented as a historic opportunity to reposition the region within the global trading system, while serving as a renewed platform to consolidate decades of regional cooperation and strengthen intra-community trade.

The Parliament noted that the AfCFTA provides the West African sub-region with a unique opportunity to address collective challenges by promoting value chain development, industrialisation, competitiveness, and expanded market access beyond national borders.

Among the benefits highlighted is the expansion of intra-community trade, which is expected to stimulate economic growth, foster resilience, create jobs, and promote inclusive development, particularly for youth and women entrepreneurs.

Speaking on the consolidation of democracy and the rule of law, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Memunatou Ibrahima, said strategic priority must also be given to the preservation of peace and security, as well as the promotion of women’s leadership.

Despite these prospects, she noted that the AfCFTA has yet to be ratified by some member states, which are also still developing their national implementation strategies.

She added that the success of the AfCFTA hinges on the collective commitment of governments, the private sector, civil society, women, youth, and technical experts across the region.