ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority Sets Stage for Inaugural Competition Conference in Banjul By Isatou Jawara

The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) has announced plans for its inaugural Annual Conference, scheduled to take place from 15 to 17 September 2026 in Banjul, The Gambia, as the regional institution moves to strengthen competition policy, deepen market integration and address persistent barriers to trade across West Africa.

The announcement was made on Thursday, 20 August 2026, during a press conference in Banjul ahead of the landmark conference, which is expected to bring together competition authorities, policymakers, regulators, academics, legal practitioners, judges, development partners and competition professionals from across West Africa and beyond.

The three-day conference will be held under the theme: “Competition Policy and Market Integration in ECOWAS: Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities.”

The gathering is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to examine how effective competition policy can contribute to a more integrated, transparent and efficient regional market.

Speaking to journalists, ERCA Executive Director, Mr Simeon Koffi, described the conference as a significant milestone for the regional competition authority, noting that it would be the first major conference organised by ERCA to bring together key stakeholders involved in competition policy and regional trade.

> “This landmark conference will be the first conference organised by the regional authority to bring together stakeholders from the regional market,” Mr Koffi said.

He explained that effective competition policy is critical to ensuring that businesses operate on a level playing field, while consumers benefit from competitive prices, greater choice, innovation and improved quality of goods and services.

A major concern highlighted by the ERCA leadership is the continued existence of barriers that make it difficult for businesses and traders to move goods and services across West African borders.

Mr Koffi said the authority is committed to ensuring that institutional frameworks established under the ECOWAS regional system are effectively implemented.

> “We want to ensure the institutional frameworks are implemented in accordance with our regional framework,” he said.

He further identified non-tariff barriers as among the challenges undermining the region’s trade and integration ambitions.

> “Non-tariff barriers are undermining our regional trade. Our mission is to ensure that all these barriers are tackled, identify all these barriers and take appropriate measures,” he said.

The issue is particularly significant for small and medium-sized businesses, traders and producers whose access to regional markets can be affected by administrative restrictions, inconsistent regulatory practices, border delays and other obstacles that increase the cost of doing business.

Although ECOWAS has long pursued the objective of creating a more integrated regional market, the reality for many businesses remains complex. The movement of goods across borders can still involve multiple procedures and regulatory requirements, raising questions about how regional commitments can be translated into practical benefits for businesses and consumers.

The upcoming conference comes at an important time for ECOWAS as the region seeks to strengthen the practical implementation of its competition framework.

Discussions are expected to focus on the relationship between competition policy and market integration, including challenges confronting national competition authorities and regulators in addressing anti-competitive practices with implications beyond national borders.

As regional markets become increasingly interconnected, business practices in one country can have consequences for consumers and competitors in another. This makes cooperation among national authorities and the regional competition institution increasingly important.

ERCA’s role is therefore expected to become particularly relevant in cases where competition issues have a regional dimension.

The conference will also provide an opportunity for policymakers, judges, lawyers and academics to examine the legal and institutional challenges associated with enforcing competition rules across different jurisdictions.

The inaugural conference is expected to mark the beginning of what ERCA hopes will become a sustained platform for regional dialogue on competition policy.

Mr Koffi said the conference would help advance the implementation of regional competition law while strengthening stakeholders’ understanding of their respective responsibilities within the ECOWAS competition framework.

For consumers, stronger competition enforcement could translate into greater protection from unfair market practices. For businesses, a more predictable competition environment could encourage investment, innovation and fairer access to regional markets.

For ECOWAS, effective competition policy could become an important instrument for turning the vision of regional economic integration into a more tangible reality.

The Banjul conference will therefore be closely watched by policymakers and the private sector, particularly as West African economies continue to pursue deeper regional trade and economic integration.

With its theme placing equal emphasis on the issues, challenges and opportunities facing competition policy, the meeting is expected to provide space for frank discussions on what is working, where gaps remain and what needs to change.

The success of the conference, however, will ultimately depend not only on the quality of the discussions but also on whether recommendations emerging from Banjul translate into stronger institutions, more effective enforcement and concrete action against practices that undermine fair competition and regional trade.

As ECOWAS continues its efforts to build a more integrated regional market, the establishment and strengthening of effective competition mechanisms could prove essential to ensuring that integration benefits not only large businesses but also smaller enterprises, traders, producers and consumers across West Africa.

The inaugural ERCA Annual Conference therefore represents more than a three-day gathering. It offers an opportunity to begin building a stronger regional conversation on how competition policy can support a more open, fair and integrated ECOWAS market.