A Liberian lawmaker, Hon. Taa Z. Wongbe, has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to return to its founding objective of economic integration, warning that the regional bloc has become overly focused on political affairs at the expense of trade and economic development.
Wongbe, a member of the Liberian delegation to the sixth ECOWAS Parliament, made the call while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Parliament's delocalised meeting in Cotonou.
He said the vision of ECOWAS' founding fathers was to build a regional economy that would promote trade, create jobs and improve the livelihoods of citizens through the free movement of goods and services.
According to him, that vision has been undermined by persistent trade barriers and delays at border crossings, despite protocols guaranteeing free movement within the sub-region.
"The founding fathers knew that economic integration would benefit ECOWAS citizens, but today the organisation has shifted its focus to political affairs," Wongbe said, urging member states to restore the bloc's economic mandate.
He cited observations made during a field visit by parliamentarians, saying traders still face cumbersome border procedures that make transporting goods between ECOWAS countries more difficult than exporting them outside the region.
Describing the situation as unacceptable, Wongbe said delays along major trade corridors, including the Benin–Côte d'Ivoire route, continue to frustrate businesses and weaken regional commerce.
He urged ECOWAS member states to remove administrative bottlenecks at border posts, enforce existing protocols on free movement and hold border officials accountable for practices that impede trade.
The Liberian parliamentarian also challenged the ECOWAS Parliament to move beyond discussions by ensuring that recommendations from its meetings are implemented by national governments.
He warned that without concrete action, the outcomes of the Parliament's delocalised meetings would have little impact on citizens and would amount to an unjustifiable use of public funds.
"We need action, not just meetings. If our resolutions are not implemented, then we are failing the people who expect ECOWAS to improve their lives," Wongbe said.