Govt launches ‘ECOWAS for All’ campaign to bridge gap between regional policies and citizens

The Government of Ghana has introduced a nationwide public awareness campaign titled "ECOWAS for All" aimed at increasing citizen awareness and involvement in regional integration efforts. At the campaign's inauguration in Accra, Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister James Gyakye Quayson highlighted that while the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has achieved considerable success in areas like peace, security, and free movement over the past five decades, many Ghanaians remain unaware of the rights and opportunities afforded to them under various ECOWAS protocols.

Quayson emphasized that the campaign seeks to address the gap between ECOWAS policies and the everyday experiences of ordinary citizens by focusing on key benefits such as visa-free travel within the region, opportunities under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), and the right to reside and engage in business activities in other Member States.

The campaign will employ a citizen-centric approach, utilizing forums, market sensitization, border engagements, media outreach, and student workshops to disseminate information. These platforms will allow citizens, including traders, transport operators, students, and residents, to voice their concerns about customs procedures, documentation, and border processes, thereby providing valuable feedback to policymakers.

Ghana's commitment to the ECOWAS vision of becoming a "Community of People" by 2050 was reaffirmed by Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Quayson, who urged various stakeholders—including traders, transport operators, business associations, schools, the media, and state agencies—to support the campaign. Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu, Deputy Chief Director of the Ministry, noted that the initiative represents Ghana's practical contribution to transforming ECOWAS from a Community of States into a Community of People.

She emphasized that the Ministry, in collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), will directly engage with communities and border areas to educate citizens and listen to their concerns, with feedback from stakeholders informing efforts to improve ECOWAS policy implementation.

Ambassador Mohammed Lawan Gana, the Resident Representative of ECOWAS in Ghana, described the campaign as timely, stressing that the true success of regional integration can only be measured by the tangible improvements in citizens' daily lives. He highlighted the potential benefits of integration, such as trade opportunities, education, skills development, and entrepreneurship, and pointed to initiatives like the ECOWAS biometric ID system and the SIGMAT automated transit management platform aimed at simplifying movement and trade.

Other speakers, including Ahmed Tijani, Director at the Regional Integration Bureau, and Justice Amevor, Deputy Commissioner of Immigration, stressed the importance of strengthening the implementation of the Free Movement Protocol, particularly through the use of the Ghana Card system, which harmonizes travel documents and facilitates seamless cross-border movement.

The launch of the "ECOWAS for All" campaign, held under the theme "Bringing ECOWAS Closer to the Citizen: Promoting Awareness, Participation and Opportunities for Regional Integration," brought together diplomats, government officials, ECOWAS institutions, business leaders, civil society representatives, academics, and the media. The campaign is set to run over the coming months, with a focus on making regional integration a tangible reality for Ghanaians.