Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was established by the ECOWAS Treaty in May 1975 with the primary objective of promoting economic integration in “all fields of economic activity, particularly industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, commerce, monetary and financial questions, social and cultural matters”.

Article 3(1) of the ECOWAS Treaty provides that the aims of the Community are to:
• Promote cooperation and integration in the region, leading to the establishment of an economic union in West Africa in order to raise the living standards of its peoples
• Maintain and enhance economic stability, foster relations among Member States and contribute to the progress and development of the African continent.

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TARC ECOWAS Alignement of High-Speed Railway

 

As Technical Feasibility Study (TFS) will start in ECOWAS in 2023, kindly find here our TARC Key Contacts and ECOWAS Representatives per Country.

TARC Key Representative for ECOWAS:

  • Joseph EKAY MENSAH; j.ekay@tarcltd.com (Overall ECOWAS Business Development; Deputy TARC PGM)
  • Adaku Pauline ABEL-OSUJI; a.osuji@tarcltd.com (Head TARC Communication AU, NEPAD/PIDA and RECs)

TARC Key Representatives Nigeria:

  • Joseph EKAY MENSAH; j.ekay@tarcltd.com (Nigeria Business Development)
  • Paschal Osita AMANFO; p.amanfo@tarcltd.com (Government MOF)
  • Bernard Chukwuma UNIJE; b.unije@tarcltd.com (Railway Eng.)
  • Felix JOHNSON; felix.johnson@ficuscap.com (Investment Banking)
  • Robert MBAKWE; bobbymbakwe@gmail.com (Civil Engineer)

TARC Key Representatives Senegal:

  • Saidou Sidy BASSE; s.basse@tarcltd.com (Government)
  • Frederick OSHUNNIYI; frederick@iicegroup.com (Railway Eng.)
  • Christophe NORMANTOWICZ; normantowicz@hotmail.com (Electric Eng.)

TARC Key Representatives The Gambia:

  • Alpha Omar JAMMEH; a.jammeh@tarcltd.com (Government)
  • Frederick OSHUNNIYI; frederick@iicegroup.com (Railway Eng.)

TARC Key Representatives Guinea:

  • Alpha Omar JAMMEH; a.jammeh@tarcltd.com (Government)
  • Frederick OSHUNNIYI; frederick@iicegroup.com (Railway Eng.)

TARC Key Representatives Guineau Bissau:

  • Alpha Omar JAMMEH; a.jammeh@tarcltd.com (Government)
  • Frederick OSHUNNIYI; frederick@iicegroup.com (Railway Eng.)

TARC Key Representatives Sierra Leone:

  • Ing. Fasineh Bockarie KAMARA; fasinehb.kamara@gmail.com (Government MOTA)

TARC Key Representatives Liberia:

  • Nana Ameyaw MINATH; mintzltd@gmail.com (Government)

TARC Key Representatives Ivory Coast:

  • Valerie Chiepie ADJE; valadje@gmail.com (Communication and Government)
  • Kalifa TRAORE; traorek11@yahoo.fr (Civil Eng.)

TARC Key Representatives Ghana:

  • Rose Amuso AYEE; roseaam@yahoo.co.uk (Government; TARC CMO)
  • Samuel BEKOE; s.bekoe@tarcltd.com (Civil Eng.)

TARC Key Representatives Togo:

  • Jean Luc MEDETONOU; jl.medetonou@tarcltd.com (Government and Civil Eng.)

TARC Key Representatives Benin:

  • Jean Luc MEDETONOU; jl.medetonou@tarcltd.com (Government and Civil Eng.)
  • Stanislas Sedjiro ANATOVI; stan55338@gmail.com (Civil Eng.)

TARC Key Representatives Burkina Faso:

  • Rodrigue ABALOUTOU; loblaki.abaloutou@gmail.com (Government)

 

 

Structure

ECOWAS is governed by its Authority of Heads of State and Government. The Authority Chairperson is usually elected for a one-year term. ECOWAS’s structure includes these:
• Council of Ministers, which oversees policy implementation
• Commission (Secretariat until 2006), which carries out all executive functions
• Community Parliament, which represents all the peoples of West Africa
• Economic and Social Council, which considers economic and social matters
• Community Court of Justice, which interprets the ECOWAS Treaty and adjudicates on matters arising out of obligations under ECOWAS law
• Fund for Cooperation, Compensation and Development
• Six specialised technical commissions
• Bank for Infrastructure and Development.

In addition, the private sector organisations Ecobank (Ecobank Transnational Inc. (ETI)) and Ecomarine International (shipping) are associated with the ECOWAS system. ECOWAS also oversees 12 specialised agencies, the:
• West African Health Organisation (WAHO)
• West African Monetary Agency (WAMA)
• West African Monetary Institute (WAMI)

•ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre (EYSDC)
• ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC)
• Water Resources Coordination Unit (WRCU)
• ECOWAS Brown Card
• West African Power Pool (WAPP)
• Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing in West Africa (GIABA)
• West African Regional Health Programme (PRSAO)
• ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE)
• ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA).

Meetings
The Authority of Heads of State and Government meets at least once a year. It may also meet in extraordinary session.

Members (15)

Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea. Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo