The ECOWAS Commission has called for sanctions against member states that fail to implement regional policies supporting Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs), insisting that the challenge facing the bloc is not the absence of policies but poor enforcement.
The call was made on Monday during the ongoing delocalized meeting of the ECOWAS Parliament's Joint Committee on Industry and Private Sector, Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research, Administration, Finance and Budget, and Public Accounts in Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
Speaking on the theme, "Trade Facilitation, Regulatory Reforms and Formalisation," Dr. Tony Luka Elumelu of the ECOWAS Business Council Secretariat said the regional bloc already has adequate legal frameworks, protocols and the MSME Charter to promote private sector growth.
He argued that ECOWAS should focus on enforcing existing agreements instead of introducing new policies.
"We already have robust policies, protocols, legal instruments and the MSME Charter to support enterprise development. What is required now is to implement what has already been adopted, enforce existing regulations and eliminate bottlenecks preventing MSMEs from thriving," Elumelu said.
He warned that excessive bureaucracy and barriers to legitimate trade could weaken West Africa's competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), urging governments to invest in transport infrastructure and remove obstacles hindering cross-border commerce.
Elumelu also identified multiple checkpoints and roadblocks across member states as major impediments to regional trade and economic integration. He called for clear implementation timelines for ECOWAS legal instruments and stronger monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance by member states.
Also speaking, the ECOWAS Commission's Principal Programme Officer for Enterprise and Business Promotion, Dr. Olalekan Afolabi, stressed the need to formalize businesses across the region, noting that a large proportion of enterprises in West Africa still operate within the informal economy.
He urged ECOWAS parliamentarians to encourage national governments to adopt policies that promote business formalization and domesticate regional agreements through national legislation.
Afolabi also highlighted the importance of implementing the European Union-funded African Trade Competitiveness and Market Access Programme, a €50 million initiative designed to strengthen trade and improve market access across Africa.
According to him, parliamentarians have a critical oversight role in ensuring that regional commitments are translated into measurable economic outcomes.
Participants at the meeting agreed that effective implementation of existing ECOWAS policies would strengthen MSMEs, boost intra-regional trade and accelerate economic development across West Africa.