The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission, has officially launched the ECOWAS National Citizens Engagement and Public Sensitization Campaign in Accra, Ghana. The campaign, dubbed "ECOWAS for All: Bringing ECOWAS Closer to the Citizens, Promoting Awareness, Participation, and Opportunities for Regional Integration," aims to bridge the gap between ECOWAS policies and citizens' everyday experiences. Many citizens, particularly traders, entrepreneurs, and students, are still unaware of the opportunities created by ECOWAS protocols.
The campaign seeks to educate citizens about the benefits of regional integration, including the free movement of persons and goods, and the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson, emphasized that regional integration cannot succeed if it remains largely understood within government institutions and conference rooms. He stressed that citizens must understand, embrace, and actively support ECOWAS protocols, which are intended to improve their lives.
According to Mr. Quayson, a Ghanaian can travel to other ECOWAS member states without a visa and stay for up to 90 days, subject to applicable travel requirements. Goods originating within the region and qualifying under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme are expected to cross borders without import duties. Citizens can also reside and establish businesses in other ECOWAS member states in accordance with domestic laws.
The Deputy Minister urged citizens to understand the procedures governing movement, trade, and residence within the sub-region, emphasizing that these are not favors but rights. The campaign will include stakeholder forums, market sensitization activities, border community engagements, media outreach, and student workshops. Specific engagements are expected to take place at Makola and Madina markets, as well as the Aflao and Elubo border communities.
The ECOWAS Resident Representative in Ghana, Ambassador Gana Lawan Mohammed, said the campaign came at a critical point in the evolution of regional integration in West Africa. He described ECOWAS as a community of about 400 million people, stressing that its success should be measured not only by decisions taken at the institutional level but also by the extent to which citizens experience tangible benefits in their daily lives.
Ambassador Mohammed emphasized the urgent need to close the gap between regional policies and citizens' knowledge and experiences. He noted that the campaign should not be viewed merely as an information dissemination campaign but as a citizen engagement initiative aimed at promoting awareness, participation, and opportunities for regional integration.
The campaign is expected to provide traders and other citizens with opportunities to raise concerns about customs procedures, documentation, and border processes. By engaging citizens and promoting awareness of ECOWAS protocols, the campaign aims to promote regional integration and bring its benefits closer to ordinary citizens.
Key points
- The ECOWAS for All campaign aims to promote awareness of regional integration benefits among citizens.
- The campaign will include stakeholder forums, market sensitization activities, and border community engagements.
- Citizens can travel to other ECOWAS member states without a visa and stay for up to 90 days, subject to applicable travel requirements.
