Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Chairman of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme Taskforce, has urged lawyers to take up cases involving violations of ECOWAS protocols, World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) regulations to promote free trade in West Africa.
He said although regional laws existed to support the free movement of goods, people, finance and investment, some institutions continued to create barriers that affected the smooth implementation of these agreements.
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Dr Chambas made the call during the opening of a two-day regional workshop for stakeholders in cross-border trade and the rule of law involving Ghana, Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Burkina Faso.
The workshop, organised by the POS Foundation, a civil society organisation focused on access to justice and advocacy, was held on the theme: “Promoting Small-Scale Cross Border Trade, Rule of Law and Use of Technology in West Africa.”
He explained that challenges affecting the implementation of trade protocols often frustrated small-scale traders, particularly women, who depended heavily on cross-border businesses for their livelihoods.
According to him, lawyers had a crucial role to play by providing legal support and ensuring that institutions respected regional trade laws.
Dr Chambas noted that regional integration remained essential in removing barriers that limited the movement of goods, services, people, capital and ideas across borders.
“Trade is one of the easiest ways for countries to integrate across borders through physical and virtual technological means. As such, the rule of law plays a fundamental role at national, bilateral and multilateral levels of engagements,” he said.
He commended the POS Foundation for supporting informal small-scale businesses in border communities through legal assistance and advocacy.
He added that the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme Taskforce provided an avenue for addressing grievances due to the absence of a strong dispute resolution mechanism within the region.
Dr Chambas also praised the Foundation’s plan to train legal and paralegal experts who would provide support to traders along major trade corridors in West Africa.
The Executive Director of POS Foundation, Mr Jonathan Osei Owusu, said the organisation’s Justice for All programme had helped reduce remand prison congestion from 33 per cent to 12 per cent through interventions in criminal justice and rule of law.
He stressed that sustainable development could not be achieved without protecting human rights and promoting economic empowerment.
Mr Osei Owusu said despite Africa’s vast natural resources, the continent continued to face economic challenges due to limited innovation, technology and weak negotiation systems in global markets.
He called for a coordinated and harmonised approach among African countries to strengthen trade and economic cooperation.
The Queen of Dodowa, Naana Yepoyo Dadetsu III, who chaired the event, appealed for the establishment of a special desk to assist traders with completing duty documents when importing goods and services.
Participants at the workshop called for stronger government support for small-scale enterprises affected by COVID-19, enforcement of ECOWAS free trade agreements, removal of language barriers, reduction of multiple border checks, extortion and arbitrary levies that hinder cross-border trade.
