The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness & Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare has called on her colleague Ministers of Trade & Industry in ECOWAS to expedite the process of harmonization of standards to facilitate trade in goods.
The Minister made the passionate call during the 4th Joint Meeting of the ECOWAS Ministers of Trade & Industry held in Abuja, Nigeria from 15-16 May 2025.
In line with the desire to promote intra-regional trade and spur growth, the 4th Joint Meeting of the ECOWAS Ministers of Trade and Industry focused on various multilateral, continental, regional and bilateral trade issues including the outcome of the 13th WTO Ministerial Meeting
(MC13), the status of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), bilateral trading relations and the draft Cooperation Agreement between the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) and Member States on the implementation of Competition and Consumer
Protection Rules within ECOWAS.
Commenting on the reports by the Senior Experts, Madam Ofosu-Adjare indicated that 50 years celebration of ECOWAS should spur Member countries to reflect on the modest achievements made and chart a new course for the years ahead.
The Minister, in her contribution, highlighted the fact that one of the key tenets of ECOWAS is economic empowerment and current geo-political realignment, trade disruptions affecting supply chains coupled with global inflationary trends poses a major challenge to the region.
However, she contended that, as Ministers of Trade & Industry this was an opportune time to reset regional trade imbalances by taking advantage of AfCFTA and other market access. Overall, according to the Minister, AfCFTA has the potential to transform Africa’s economy with a projected GDP of 7% or US$45B by 2035 and to boost intra-African trade.
On infrastructural and logistics support to enhance the movement of goods and services across the region, the Minister emphasized the need for a joint meeting between the Ministers of Trade & Industry and Ministers of Transport.
“Our inability to address this as a matter of urgency would undermine the private sectors efforts in deepening our bilateral trade” she said.
Speaking on behalf the ECOWAS Commission, Mrs. Toure-Litse reaffirmed the commitment of the Commission to continue to promote and accelerate the implementation of economic integration programmes at regional and continental levels, including issues related to the elimination of trade barriers, improvement of regional quality infrastructure as well as the implementation of various regional initiatives to promote regional value chains and investment.
Dr. Paul Koffi Koffi on behalf of the President of WAEMU Commission emphasized that WAEMU is fully committed to working alongside ECOWAS to address the common challenges confronting the sub-region.
Senator John Owan Enoh, who represented the Government of Federal Republic of Nigeria, expressed the hope that the recommendations from the Ministerial Meeting would address issues related to industrial development and improvement of intra-regional trade.
The chairperson of the 4th Joint Meeting of the ECOWAS Ministers of Trade & Industry, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister for Industry, Trade & Investment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, added that the presence of her colleague Ministers demonstrated the collective commitment of
Sector Ministers to advancing regional integration, fostering industrial development and enhancing trade within the community.
The Experts and Senior Officials who took part in the Experts Meeting were Mr. Kofi Addo, Chief Commercial Officer and Mrs. Stella Akosua Ansah, Chief Commercial Officer both of Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness & Industry, Mr. Yao Fechin Akoto, Ghana Revenue Authority, Customs
Division and Mrs. Diana A. Amponsah of Ghana Standards Authority.
