Ecowas Regionalism and Integration Efforts in the Wake of the African Continental Free Trade Area

Abstract

The establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area represents a significant milestone towards achieving regional economic integration in Africa. The AfCFTA Agreement acknowledges the significance of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) as fundamental components for the effective execution of its objectives, aligning with the principles outlined in the Abuja Treaty. Furthermore, the agreement anticipates that RECs have already made substantial progress in fostering a more comprehensive level of integration. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is intended to expand upon the existing Tripartite Free Trade Agreement and the ECOWAS Regional Trade Agreement. This study focused on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a case study to explore the opportunities and obstacles associated with achieving the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It is important to note that a significant portion of trade within Africa occurs inside the RECs. Situated within the theory of supranationalism, this study sheds light on the factors that influence the successful implementation of the AfCFTA. The study applied a qualitative research approach, gathering and analysing both primary and secondary information. Three key persons from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in Ghana, the AfCFTA Secretariat and the University of Ghana participated in semi-structured interviews to collect primary data. The results prove that ECOWAS keeps serving as a helpful Regional Economic Community, especially with the promotion of regional trade and integration. The study further reveals that the AfCFTA can be implemented effectively in ECOWAS because of its organisational structure. In addition, ECOWAS has achieved key results in fostering tranquilly, economic advancement and regional trade among its countries and the wider African union. The study indicated that trade liberalization poses a significant obstacle to the successful implementation of the AfCFTA. The study highlights the challenges in achieving ECOWAS’ economic integration principles due to a lack of capability, colonial hangover, and external factors. It also highlights the lack of full utilization of trade integration and the constraints preventing regionalism and economic integration in West Africa. The study proposes measures like harmonization of legislation, improved tariffs, robust institutions, and increased transportation and communication infrastructure.