The Future of ECOWAS: Critical Perspectives

In addition, political crisis and elections contention are major problems hampering the already shaken achievements of Ecowas. As a Community, Ecowas ambition is to arrange (format) a safer, interconnected, prosperous and borderless region where good governance triumph and where West African have the capacity to access and harness their resources. This implies that Ecowas has the capacity to influence the economic and political landscape of each member states through policy implementation, the creation of opportunities for sustainable development, job creation and environmental preservation. Rather, it is the political landscape of each member state that has influenced the activities of Ecowas, rendering it inefficient in many regards. Indeed, the current political economic arrangement prevailing in the region is one of the major variables that needs to be reviewed and addressed. This fact has been hitherto overlooked by the organisation’s policy machine and this book, critical in essence will assess Ecowas difficulties in juxtaposition with the EU and other systems in the world using rigorous methods and level of analysis. It is widely established that societies that are profoundly unequal rarely function efficiently. This is the case with the West African region and the different economies making Ecowas are unstable and unsustainable. West Africa has turned its back on good policies and what everybody is witnessing is a very tiny minority holding too much power and establishing policies that benefit itself rather than putting in place policies that should benefit the entire society. That is why the sub region is shrivelling into pitiful, self-absorbed, embittered and impoverished insignificance. In West Africa, multilateralism is a lure, a sell-out deal and states do not relinquish any part of their sovereignty for Ecowas to further its goals. Relations between Ecowas member states remain a zero-sum-game where self-help is predominantly the norm. This book also contends that since its creation the nature of the discourse and statements from Ecowas the Heads of States has been ideological and politically motivated and shockingly out of touch with political and economic realities on the ground. Ecowas was created in the hope of bringing about economic well-being to all west African people. The idea was great (and still) and simple as an economic community will help the subregion and each member state will reap the dividend of the integration. The creation of the sub regional organisation was seen by many as a significant move toward deeper economic integration, peace and security within this large swathe of Africa. The rationale is twofold: to realise maximum profit from collective self-reliance for the benefit of west African population and to achieve effective economic union between anglophone and francophone countries. The launch of Ecowas was a euphoric moment for the region and brought about hopes of better living conditions for the people of West Africa. However, these legitimate expectations, since 1975 run into the reality of politics, insecurity and various challenges. These impediments demonstrate the limits of the organisation and raise awareness of the deeper division amongst francophone and anglophone Ecowas countries…. Those in charge of the CFA were unable to prevent capital being diverted to unproductive sector and crucially capital were taken out of the region under their watch and sometimes with their explicit backing. In country like Ethiopia you cannot go out with their currency. You exchange your dollar with their local currency. In regard to the monetary policy, the CFA failed because it did not support the various economies. In regard to Socio economic indicators (HDI etc..) the CFA has shown its limits. With the single currency, the CFA will phase out, however the advent of the single currency does not automatically mean that development will follow. The single currency means that we have our monetary destiny in our hands. The value of a currency is always linked to the dynamism of its economy. This implies that West African need to work harder and be more responsible. For example, in West Africa, Whatever the topic even if it is for the common good, it is difficult to engage in a debate without being accused of searching personal gain. This mentality needs to change for the benefit of healthy debates over real issues plaguing the sub region….. West Africa’s agonizing wait for a single currency is still on. There is a universal philosophy which acknowledges the timeless wisdom of education. It is well-established that "There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen” . Applying this quote to Africa and Ecowas, one realises that it is high time West African population get actively involved and fully contribute to the social and political debates. Today, West Africa population is young, unemployed. Authorities are still searching for the right solutions, assessing all sort of political and economic levers to break the deadlock… Morocco made a triumphal return to the AU thanks to its ‘chequebook diplomacy’, through which it bought its way back into the organisation that is still largely viewing the country as ‘coloniser’….. In relation to its bid, Morocco can rely on its robust manufacturing abilities which can immediately come through the most prized market within Ecowas: the Nigerian market and that is Morocco ultimate reason to embark in joining Ecowas. Morocco has already conquered the 9 Francophone countries in West Africa thanks to its chequebook diplomacy and the growing economic ties with sub-Saharan Africa seems non-stop. If West African citizens are to understand whether their government or Ecowas is getting a good financial and economic deals on their behalf as well as safeguarding their rights, with the various partnership agreement, then they need to be able to question leaders and processes operating in the region without fear. West Africa has become the land where the powerful prey on the powerless and where policy failures have led to untold suffering and where the elite feels no pinch from the sharp economic and social decline and bear disproportionately less of the consequences. Politicians and the wealthiest class have the connections and the means to get opportunities. This is not the case with the vast majority of west Africans whose life prospects are more dependent on good policy implementation…