The ECOWAS Commission has initiated a three-day sensitization campaign designed to empower women small-scale cross-border traders as part of the regional integration agenda.
Delegates from eleven West African countries, including Ghana, Togo, Benin, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, the Gambia, Cape Verde, and Cote D'Ivoire, convened in Tema for this program.
Ambassador Baba Gana Wakil, the Resident Representative of ECOWAS, highlighted the primary mandate of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to promote and strengthen trade across the various corridors of the sub-region.
He emphasized that the region's integration relies on the intensity of trade among its members, stating that integration cannot be achieved without trade.
Ambassador Wakil acknowledged the pivotal role women play in West African trade, particularly in small-scale trading along the corridors.
He stressed the importance of empowering them with knowledge about various trade protocols and other crucial aspects.
Kolawole A. Sofola, the Acting Director-Trade of the ECOWAS Commission, expressed concern about the low level of intra-regional trade, which has hovered between nine and twelve percent over the years.
This figure is substantially lower than other trading blocs such as the European Union, Asia, and Latin America.
This situation has prompted the need to promote trade opportunities and address barriers to trade in West Africa.
Mr. Sofola also highlighted how external factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and political shocks, have disrupted supply chains and led to the closure of borders for various periods. These challenges have disproportionately affected small-scale cross-border traders.
Mr. Sofola further noted that women constitute between 70 and 80 percent of the cross-border trader population.
They encounter various challenges such as complex customs clearance procedures, extensive documentation requirements, harassment, and irregular fee collections, which impede the development of their businesses and negatively impact intra-regional trade.
He emphasized the relevance of pillar three of the ECOWAS Vision 2050, “Economic Integration and Interconnectivity,” which aims to deepen economic integration through the free movement of people and goods.
Another pillar, “Social Inclusion,” prioritizes the welfare of ECOWAS citizens, particularly women, children, youth, and other vulnerable groups, in the integration process.
Stella Ansah, the Team Lead in the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Division at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, emphasized the crucial role of women in facilitating trade and economic growth in the region.
She praised ECOWAS for taking concrete steps to address women's challenges through sensitization and education. Ansah pointed out that women when equipped with knowledge of regional protocols and regulations, can contribute significantly to the prosperity of ECOWAS.
Mrs. Faustina Acheampong, the Director of the Department of Gender at the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, emphasized the importance of empowering women for sustainable development.
She highlighted that women when equipped with knowledge of business operations, could contribute not only to family finances but also to the nation's Gross Domestic Product as a whole.
- Reporting by Laudia Sawer: Editing by Adewale Adejoke