ECOWAS Campaign Targets Border Delays, Unofficial Charges Facing Traders

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has intensified efforts to educate traders and transport operators on ECOWAS trade regulations to help reduce border delays, unfamiliar procedures and unofficial charges that increase the cost of doing business across West Africa.

The campaign is therefore educating participants on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and the Right to Establishment, and the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme.

The initiative also provides information on other regional programmes intended to facilitate trade, transportation and economic activities among member states.

Coordinating Director for Multilateral and International Organisations at the Ministry, Ambassador Francis Danti Kotia, said inadequate knowledge of regional trade protocols contributed to some of the difficulties traders encountered at border posts.

He made the remarks at the ECOWAS National Citizen Engagement and Public Sensitisation Campaign at Madina Market in Accra on Thursday, to bring the regional body closer to citizens and improve public understanding of regional integration.

Ambassador Kotia said the campaign was designed to educate traders and transport operators on their rights, responsibilities and opportunities under ECOWAS protocols while providing a platform for them to raise concerns about cross-border trade.

“We have come to your doorstep today, not to lecture you, but to engage with you, and raise awareness of the rights, opportunities and responsibilities that come with being a citizen of the ECOWAS community,” he said.

He noted that traders and transport operators continued to face challenges, including delays at border posts, unfamiliar procedures and unofficial charges, which could increase business costs and reduce the benefits of regional integration.

“Many of the difficulties encountered at our borders arise not because the rules are overly complicated, but because the rules are not sufficiently understood,” Ambassador Kotia said.

He explained that greater awareness of the rules governing cross-border trade could help prevent unnecessary delays, misunderstandings and unofficial payments.

Ambassador Kotia encouraged traders and transport operators to pay attention to presentations by officials from the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, the Ghana Shippers Authority and other stakeholder institutions.

He said the engagement would allow participants to obtain information directly from the relevant institutions, ask questions and seek clarification on procedures affecting their businesses.

However, he reminded traders and transport operators that the benefits of regional integration came with responsibilities, including ensuring that goods were properly documented, honestly declared and transported through approved channels.

“Compliance with regulations helps create a fair, efficient, and predictable trading environment that benefits everyone,” he said.

Ambassador Kotia said ECOWAS represented a market of more than 400 million people, offering opportunities for trade, investment and business expansion.

He urged participants to share the information acquired with other traders, transport operators and their communities to improve awareness of regional trade arrangements.

The ECOWAS Resident Representative in Ghana, Ambassador Mohammed Lawan Gana, said the campaign came at a time when there was a growing need to improve public understanding of ECOWAS and strengthen citizens' involvement in efforts to promote regional cooperation.

“This campaign comes at a time when there is a growing need to strengthen public awareness, deepen citizen participation, and demonstrate more clearly the practical benefits of regional integration for the people of West Africa,” he said.

The Madina Market campaign forms part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' efforts to bring ECOWAS closer to citizens by improving awareness of its mandate, policies and programmes, particularly among traders, transport operators and other groups engaged in cross-border economic activities.

Margaret Adjeley Sowah, ISD