ECOWAS CCC Bureau Reenforce Regional Competition Framework Amid AfCFTA Negotiations.
By Raymond Enoch
In a strategic move to bolster fair competition across West Africa, the Bureau of the ECOWAS Consultative Committee on Competition (CCC) convened in Banjul, The Gambia, from 3rd to 4th June, 2025.
This pivotal meeting aimed to align ECOWAS’s competition policies with the evolving African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) regulations.
Key discussions centered on harmonizing regional competition laws with AfCFTA’s competition framework, ensuring a unified stance in continental negotiations. Additionally, the committee developed an action plan for a grant agreement focused on enhancing the ECOWAS Competition Information System (ECIS) through improved data collection. Advocacy, awareness, and visibility strategies for the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) were also on the agenda.
Dr. Simeon K. Koffi, Executive Director of ERCA, emphasized the importance of these initiatives in strengthening the region’s competition infrastructure. He highlighted the necessity for cohesive efforts to implement the Community Competition Rules effectively, aligning with AfCFTA’s objectives.
This meeting marks a significant step in ECOWAS’s commitment to fostering a competitive and integrated regiongal market, reinforcing its position in the broader African economic landscape.
