Ecowas — Road to political union

The European Union (EU), established under the Treaty of Rome in 1958, has been a model for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). 

Known initially as the European Economic Community (EEC), it was essentially a common market for European countries.

The goal of the EU is to integrate the economies of member-states, promote co-ordination of social development within the community and eventually create a political union.

The processes leading to full integration of the economies of Europe, improved social co-ordination and creation of a political union, took place in phases and measured steps.

The European Economic Community changed its name to European Community in 1967 when three separate entities – the EEC (common market), the European Steel and Coal Community and the European Atomic Energy Community came under a unified administration and common authority.

Under the Maastricht Treaty of 1991, the EC agreed in principle to establish a common currency (the EURO) by 1999; to unify European foreign, defence and social policies and, among others, to increase the powers of the European Parliament.

The protocols for the realisation of the above-mentioned objectives came into force in 1993.

The Council of the Union, European Commission, European Parliament and the European Court of Justice constitute the main structures of the EU.

In 1998, the European Central Bank was set up and by January 1999, the EURO became the official currency for 11 of the then 15 member-states of the EU.

From December 3, 1992, goods, services, capital, workers and tourists were allowed free entry into EU countries.

From 1994, the EC changed its name to EU which signifies that the European countries have, to some extent, integrated not only their economic, but also their social, defence, foreign and political policies.

Under the Lome Convention, 70 African, the Caribbean and the Pacific countries (ACP), became affiliated members of the EU.

 Member-states of the ECOWAS are, therefore, affiliated members of the EU.

The Lome Convention demands that each of the 70 affiliated countries of the ACP should sign a European Partnership Agreement (EPA) periodically with the EU.

At an ordinary session of the ECOWAS in Accra last week, the  heads of state and the government decided to sign the EPA.

The ECOWAS endorsement of the EPA in its original form was postponed last March at the 44th ordinary session in Cote d’Ivoire because a number of West African countries objected to certain provisions in the agreement.

A communique issued at the end of the Accra meeting said: “The heads of state and the government decisively approved the EPA, negotiated, and took due account of the technical concerns raised”.

The approved EPA, according to the communique, was fair, balanced and mutually beneficial to ECOWAS and the EU.

Other issues, such as free movement of persons within the ECOWAS sub-region; biometric identity card and abolishing of resident permit; single currency for ECOWAS; security and the Ebola disease; dominated the Accra meeting.

This article will focus on the decision of the meeting to abolish resident permit and replace it with a biometric identity card for all citizens of the ECOWAS community.

Although the protocol on free and unrestricted movement and settlement of nationals of ECOWAS countries was adopted in principle, when implemented, the economic, social and cultural implications can be far-reaching and its adverse effects can go beyond the expectations of the ECOWAS heads of state and the government.

President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, the current Chairman of the ECOWAS, was reported to have welcomed the adoption of the proposal for replacement of resident permit with the community citizen biometric identity card.

He added that when the ECOWAS community citizen and biometric identity card came into force, “our people should be able to move freely in West Africa and enjoy all opportunities opening up in our member-states”.

The adoption of the protocol on free and unrestricted movement and settlement of ECOWAS citizens is laudable. It is part of the objectives of the ECOWAS to erase national borders entirely and to eventually create a political union.

Like the European Economic Community (EEC) that became the European Union (EU), ECOWAS is expected to rename itself, West African Union  when a political union is created.

However, the question is: Are West African member-states and their people well-prepared and ready for a West African sub-region without national borders?

Free and unfettered movement and settlement of ECOWAS citizens is one of the steps that lead to a political Union.

Entry visa, resident permit, job quota for aliens and restriction on non-nationals from engaging in certain jobs reserved for nationals are important mechanisms for protecting, asserting and preserving national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

I have stated above that free movement and settlement of ECOWAS nationals in each member-country is laudable and potentially beneficial.

However, before such a plan comes into force, it is necessary for each member-state to attain certain convergence criteria  to make the objective realisable and truly beneficial.

The ECOWAS has advanced convergence criteria in the financial sector that include single digit inflation, three-month imports cover, economic growth and employment necessary for the establishment of a common currency and a West African monetary zone.

Likewise, it is necessary for the protocol on free movement and unrestricted settlement of ECOWAS citizens to have convergence criteria that must be met.

The criteria should include availability of sufficient and sustainable public utilities and amenities such as water, electricity, housing, food, schools and hospitals.

At the time of writing, Ghana, for example, was rationing water; experiencing black-outs because of load-shedding; houses were in deficit of over one million and hospital beds were not enough for Ghanaian citizens.

Each ECOWAS country needs a database of public utilities and amenities; and any member- state that does not have, for example, water, electricity and houses for its citizens in excess – must not be qualified to abolish resident permit, job restrictions and so on, and should not be allowed to adopt the ECOWAS community citizen biometric identity card.

(therson.cofie@yahoo.com)