Starting out as just a dream,the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has now matured into a major brand in regional cooperation and integration initiative not just in Africa but also globally, the ECOWAS Commission’s President Ambassador Victor Gbeho tells MARTIN LUTHER KING in this interview in Abuja, Nigeria. Excerpts:
How would you assess ECOWAS after 37 years of existence?
I must tell you that ECOWAS has come very far in the realization of its core objectives. But as you know, these objectives are not events or ends in themselves and must therefore continue to be pursued in order to achieve development and integration. Maybe a trip down ECOWAS’ history will clarify things a little more. ECOWAS was founded on the 28th May 1975 by the Treaty of Lagos as a Regional Economic Community with a vision to create a single regional economic space in West Africa through integration and collective self-reliance. It was meant to be an economic space with a single market and single currency capable of generating accelerated socio-economic development and competing more meaningfully in the global market of large trading blocs and uneven patterns of trade.
In the area of the free movement of persons, goods and services, designed to facilitate the integration of our economies and peoples, we have again made considerable progress; we now have the ECOWAS passport which facilitates the travel of citizens of Member States. The ECOWAS region remains the only region in Africa with a visa-free regime across national boundaries, and the right to establishment for citizens in any Member State. We are currently working on a common visa for visitors coming into West Africa.
Also on energy, efforts are being intensified to raise the level of our combined generation so that more than 30 per cent of the population of West Africa can access energy at all times. We are working hard with the hope of improving the situation in months rather than years, through projects such as those undertaken by the West Africa Power Pool ( WAPP) to facilitate the efficient distribution and management of available electricity in the region. The Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) based in Accra Ghana is expected to engender best practices electricity power sector regulations and thereby create the enabling climate for private investment.
We are also implementing with vigour the West African Gas Pipeline project to produce and channel natural gas from Nigeria to other Member States of our Community including Benin, Togo and Ghana. Through the newly created ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), the Commission is also intensifying the exploitation of alternative and inexhaustible energy sources in the region.
Our monetary and fiscal reforms programmes seek to achieve macro-economic convergence of the economies of member States. A key success was recorded in 2009 with the adoption of a Road Map for the ECOWAS Single Currency and the effective take-off of the Multilateral Surveillance Mechanism.
Tremendous progress has also been recorded on infrastructural development as well as on peace and security to the extent that there is no active war going on in our region, neither is any Head of State in power through unconstitutional means.
The list goes on! But in a nutshell, responding to global trends, our regional organization, in spite of all the challenges, is undergoing major structural and programmatic changes for an irreversible movement from an ECOWAS of States to an ECOWAS of people under its Vision 2020 Project.
What have been the Organization’s greatest challenges so far?
Some of our greatest challenges relate to poverty, corruption and the general insecurity in the region. Our region is still characterized by fragility and unpredictability, and susceptible to reversals despite the gains we have made in the democratization of the region. Governance institutions remain weak so greater efforts need to be applied, in collaboration with civil society and other partners, to deal with the structural factors of instability.
In this regard, efforts are in progress to scale up and to strengthen institutions, reform the security systems to make them more responsive to democratic control and human rights norms as well as ensure greater separation of powers, adherence to the rule of law and strongly anchored in anti-corruption principles. The mobilization of civil society inputs into governance matters is not only advantageous, it is also unavoidable.
Critical areas of intervention to address some of our challenges include bringing down the level of illiteracy and unemployment, encouraging Member States to diversify their economies and embrace macroeconomic discipline to reduce the impact exogenous influences. We are also intensifying efforts to ensure the entrenchment of democracy and good governance.
Now that Mr. Alassane Ouattara has been eventually installed as the legitimate President of Cote d’Ivoire, what is ECOWAS doing (a) to help him consolidate peace in the country; and (b) ensure there is not a replication of a Cote d’Ivoire kind of post-election crisis in any other country in the sub region?
Thanks to the principled stance of the ECOWAS Authority and the concerted efforts of the rest of the international community, His Excellency Alassane Ouattara has assumed office as the legitimate President of Cote d’Ivoire. His colleague Heads of State and Government individually and collectively under the aegis of the ECOWAS Commission and other international platforms are making available to him, the necessary support and assistance he would require to accomplish the task of governance. Even before his inauguration the ECOWAS Commission had undertaken a humanitarian need assessment in Cote d’Ivoire and neighbouring countries affected by the post-election crisis. Based on the outcome of that assessment, the Commission in collaboration with aid agencies is providing the required humanitarian assistance to the affected countries. We will continue to assess and monitor the situation to enable us respond accordingly.
As far as help to consolidate peace is concerned, ECOWAS has held meetings with the new government in which agreement has been reached that ECOWAS should support the United Nations in its mandate to consolidate peace in both Cote d’Ivoire and Liberia. Furthermore, ECOWAS will continue to play leadership role in checking the inflow and circulation of Small Arms and Light Weapons in the two neigbouring countries emerging from conflict. Lastly, ECOWAS will continue to check the free movement of mercenaries in the erstwhile conflict areas as well as eliminate their bases or hiding places in West Africa generally.
You will also recall that in the past three years under the new dispensation, ECOWAS has suspended the membership of three Member States – Guinea, Niger and Cote d’Ivoire. Similarly, the adherence to the constitutional convergence principles of the Commission with respect to democracy and good governance yielded relatively peaceful, transparent and credible outcomes in the conduct of recent presidential elections in Guinea, Niger, Benin and Nigeria. We will continue to insist on these principles in line with international standards to ensure that democracy takes a solid irreversible root in our region.
What lessons, if any, have been learned from the Cote d’Ivoire experience?
ECOWAS is no stranger to the prevention, management and resolution of socio-economic and political conflicts. It is common knowledge that in the 80s and 90s, our Community acquired an unenviable reputation in peacekeeping and conflict management and resolution. During those dark periods when civil wars raged in our region, our leaders in their wisdom set up the ECOWAS Peace Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), which not only kept but also enforced peace. We are proud of that internationally acclaimed achievement. Today, there is no active war going on in our region and this is largely due to our proactive preventive diplomacy. Democratic culture is gradually taking root in the ECOWAS region, where all the current Heads of State have either been democratically elected or confirmed in their positions through elections with various degrees of credibility. While we are not claiming perfection, I can assure you that no lesson is lost on the Community in the sustenance of peace and security in our region and we will continue to respond appropriately to emerging situations and circumstances.
What is the Commission’s ‘ECOWAS of the People’ initiative all about? How successful or otherwise has the initiative been?
“ECOWAS of people” initiative is a project very dear to our heart – a new direction for ECOWAS within the framework of Vision 2020. What this means is that all our programmes and activities are people-centred. It is all about the people, the Community citizens. Do not forget that the whole objective of ECOWAS is the total well-being of the citizens, hence the transformation from an ECOWAS of States to an ECOWAS of the people. It is clear where the emphasis is. When the people begin to see that ECOWAS exists for their own benefit, they are encouraged to buy-in and assume ownership of the integration process. The new direction is very clear to all our institutions and citizens. For instance, citizens are taking full advantage of the existence of the Community Court of Justice and bringing their cases for adjudication. Initially, only States enjoyed such a benefit, but today citizens who have issues even with their own countries can take them to the Court of Justice.
Assess the state and progress of regional integration measures in the region.
I am not sure what you mean by “integration measures,” but the five pillars of the ECOWAS Commission’s regional agenda are well known. These are peace and security; policy harmonization; the promotion of trade and investment; infrastructural development as well as democracy and good governance.
Let us take trade and investment, for instance. The Commission has done a lot for the promotion of the West African private sector. In 2010, we organized the 3rd ECOWAS Business forum in Abidjan and introduced some innovations including the institution of new awards to encourage actors and promoters in the region.
To strengthen and deepen partnerships, the Commission continues to play important roles in the China-Africa and India-Africa cooperation Forums. A special Heads of State Summit between ECOWAS and Brazil was held in Cape Verde in 2010.
We are also encouraging the private sector to play a crucial role in our annual trade fairs.
Notable progress has been made on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations between ECOWAS and the European Union and we continue to consolidate the free trade area through the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme. The objective of the scheme is to promote intra-Community trade through the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers on imports and exports of products originating from Member States.
Furthermore, activities have been intensified towards the finalization of the Customs Union since its adoption in 2006; and a West African Industrial Policy and plan of action has been validated and will soon be adopted by our regional leaders.
On the development of infrastructure, various programmes are being implemented to facilitate road transport and transit through the corridor approach. These are being financed by our partners, notably the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the European Union. Among the projects is the Lagos-Abidjan Corridor which handles about 70 per cent of the regional road transit.
The Commission has also received a grant of 63.8 million Euros from the EU, part of which will go into the construction of five joint border posts along major corridors.
In deed, there are success stories from our checklist on each of the five pillars of regional integration targets.
Recently, there have been incidents of prejudice and xenophobic attacks on ECOWAS citizens living or having investments in other ECOWAS countries. What is ECOWAS doing to protect ECOWAS citizens living and, or doing business in other ECOWAS countries not originally their own?
We hold our flagship Protocol on Free movement of people, goods and services very sacrosanct. We are also very particular about respect for the inalienable rights of our Community citizens, hence the existence of the Community Court of Justice. In addition, there are adequate provisions under various protocols and instruments against prejudices whether national or inter-state.
The ECOWAS Commission takes serious exception to xenophobic attacks no matter how insignificant and whenever and wherever this is suspected or reported the leadership at all levels will take appropriate actions. The antennae of our Early Warning System are very active to alert the Commission early enough for any potentially grave situation to be nipped in the bud.
Ghana goes to the polls in 2012, its first since it started pumping oil. But in the run-up to those polls, bickering even within the ruling National Democratic Congress threatens to heat up the polity. Against the backdrop of similar tensions that later degenerated to threats of war before and after the country’s 2008 election, what proactive measures is ECOWAS taking to ensure that the tensions do not boil over?
As I mentioned earlier, our protocols and instruments on democracy and good governance as well as the Policy on Zero Tolerance to unconstitutional seizure of power, have general application to all 15 Member States of our Community. You should be aware too, that ECOWAS deploys election observer missions to Member States. We did so in Ghana before with excellent outcomes and we will continue to do so in the country and other member States in compliance with the regional mandate to assist Member States in organizing or observing elections. This is contained in the 2001 ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, a supplementary instrument to the Protocol relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security.
ECOWAS has implemented a fairly good road network across the region. What is happening to the rail interconnectivity?
Much has been done in infrastructure development. The blue prints for the region’s rail and road networks have been designed and funds are being mobilized, particularly from Asia for their implementation. Today it is possible to drive by road from southern coastal city of Port Harcourt in Nigeria to Dakar, Senegal in the extreme north-west of the region. The challenge of illegal roadblocks erected by corrupt law enforcement officials is being addressed.
Specifically, the Commission has carried out a study on the interconnection of the railway networks in West Africa. This study has been validated by all stakeholders (including Directors General of railway organs in Member States, officials of Ministries in charge of this mode of transport and other policy makers). As a follow-up, contract has been awarded for detailed technical, economic and environmental study on the Abidjan-Ouagadougou-Kaya-Dori-Niamey link which is a high priority.
We are also coordinating, in collaboration with the African Union Commission, a study on the Cotonou-Niamey-Ouagadougou-Abidjan link. An interim report on the study is due in September this year for validation by Member States before the final report. These two studies are funded by the EU under the 9th Economic Development Fund (EDF). I must add that resource mobilization is ongoing to conduct other studies on the other links.
What is happening to the ECO?
The ECO, as you know, is the name of the currency for the ECOWAS second monetary zone comprising The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. This complements the CFA zone mad up of eight francophone States and Guinea Bissau. Both zones are part of the ECOWAS monetary integration programme.
The Surveillance Mechanism, adopted by ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in December 2001, is intended to serve as the regional instrument for monitoring the harmonization of macro-economic and financial policies of Member States and is a crucial move towards achieving the monetary integration objectives especially a common currency by 2020. In this regard, efforts are being intensified towards creating a monetary zone using a single currency managed by a common Central Bank within the framework of the ECOWAS Monetary Cooperation Programme. In 2009, the convergence council comprising ministers of finance and the governors of central bank adopted a road map for the emergence of the second currency by 2015 and a single currency for the region 2020. The road to the single monetary union is full of challenges, but Member States have adopted measures to ensure convergence of national economic policies and facilitate the establishment of a harmonized financial and monetary system.
So you can see that it is a pretty rough ride towards the realization of a single Monetary Union in the region. But we are on course and we stay committed.
What is the Commission doing to build capacity in polls monitoring and make its Election Observation Mechanism more effective?
We may take the point that every thing in life could always be improved upon but we are not aware that our Election Observation Mechanism is ineffective as your question suggests. In line with our general pursuit for excellence, due diligence is paid to the selection of our poll observers and monitors. Our Observer Missions are usually composed of eminently qualified people with vast experience on the subject matter. The Missions are led by eminent personalities with international repute. We will never compromise on the high standards we have set for ourselves in the pursuit of democracy and good governance or any other programme for that matter. Remember that election is a subject of international interest and apart from our own observers various other countries and interest groups also send their own observers and monitors. With the world watching, we cannot afford to get it wrong in our region.
It took the help of French forces to put paid to Mr. Gbagbo’s post-electoral defeat defiance in Cote d’Ivoire? Does ECOWAS not find this embarrassing?
As I mentioned earlier the post-election crisis in Cote d’Ivoire was resolved through the collective efforts of the international community including the principled stance of ECOWAS, the support by the AU and UN and other partners. It would be inappropriate to ascribe the achievement to any one country or group.
You would recall that the crisis was the subject of several extra-ordinary summits by the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government as well as high-level crisis management meetings by the AU and the UN. So instead of a feeling of embarrassment as you put it, we at ECOWAS have every reason to associate ourselves with the success of the resolution of the Ivorian post-election crisis. We will continue to support and assist our member countries in the task of entrenching democracy and good governance because we see peace and security as a sine qua non for economic development and the realization of our collective goal of regional integration.
Mr. Gbagbo’s recalcitrance and French eventual involvement in his removal exposed ECOWAS lack of capacity in successfully undertaking the kind of military intervention needed to remove an incumbent President who refuses to leave office after being defeated at the polls. What is ECOWAS doing to build capacity in this area?
It would wrong to imply that ECOWAS lacks capacity or the will to act in Cote d’Ivoire. It bears repetition that ECOWAS through ECOMOG blazed the trail in regional conflict management and resolution. Our successes in Liberia and Sierra Leone are still fresh in international public consciousness. The Community Standby Force and Rapid Response Mechanisms are very much active. But because war is an ill wind with far-reaching adverse consequences that last far beyond the conclusion of active fighting we are persuaded to exhaust all avenues of proactive preventive diplomacy, leaving the use of force as a last resort. Our Member States are mainly developing countries. From experience, unleashing force or violence on innocent populations where diplomacy has been exhausted could be counter productive. We will prefer to err on the side of caution than blindly invite on our Community the exorbitant and avoidable cost of reconstruction after war destruction. Nonetheless, we are still holding our leaders and governments to account through the application of the various protocols and instruments I mentioned earlier.
What kind of region does ECOWAS envisage for West Africa in the next 36 years?
I would want to see an ECOWAS that has satisfactorily realized its objectives, as enshrined in its Treaty, to promote cooperation and integration, leading to the establishment of a single prosperous regional economic space, accelerated socio-economic development and overall regional competitiveness in the global market. In other words, I would like to see an ECOWAS Community of fulfilled integration agenda in five core areas – peace and security; policy harmonization; the promotion of trade and investment; infrastructural development and to entrench democracy and good governance.
In conclusion: I would like to affirm that at the Commission we have never been under any illusions about the enormity of the challenges we face, but as our Community enters the 37th year, permit me to acknowledge the founding fathers of our Institution for their foresight and vision. We must also place on record the unwavering commitment, determination and sacrifice of all stakeholders from the Authority of Heads of State and Government, to the Ministers, heads of various Community institutions, the civil society groups, the media, our numerous partners and the citizens themselves. Without their contributions, support and collaboration, the ECOWAS project which has become a brand in regional cooperation and integration in Africa and the world at large, would not have been possible. The road is rough and the tasks are daunting, but with goodwill and determination, the integration of West Africa, which started as a dream is today a reality.
