ECOWAS Urges Legislators to Ratify, Implement AfCFTA Protocols

The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima, has called on members of the regional legislature to advocate for the ratification and implementation of the protocols of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

She made the appeal on Friday while delivering her closing remarks at the first extraordinary session of the Parliament.

Ibrahima said the seminar was timely, despite concerns raised by several lawmakers during deliberations. The challenges highlighted include the persistence of non-tariff barriers, slow harmonization of legal frameworks, infrastructure deficits, and the risk of excluding women, youth, and informal traders from the benefits of continental trade.

She urged members to advocate tirelessly for the effective ratification and implementation of AfCFTA protocols and to closely monitor the alignment of national policies with regional commitments.

The Speaker also noted that the extraordinary session enabled lawmakers to examine and adopt the Parliament’s 2026 programme of activities. She described it as a structured and ambitious agenda built around four key priorities: citizen participation, institutional strengthening, peace and governance, and facilitation.

“This is our roadmap to building, in concrete terms, a citizen-oriented Parliament,” she said.

Ibrahima further encouraged lawmakers to uphold Pan-African unity amid the region’s multidimensional challenges. She expressed optimism that the ideas generated during the session would translate into concrete action, bold reforms, and more inclusive public policies.