Posted by Chester Morton / Wednesday, 30 March 2016 / No comments
The achievements of ECOWAS
Background
The Economic Community of West African States was established in 1975 by 15 member nations, who signed a treaty in Lagos, Nigeria, on 28th May, of the same year. The Community was later joined by a 16th member, Cape Verde in 1976. In 2002, Mauritania left the community, so membership is back to the original 15 membership.
Currently, the member states include Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Togo, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali, Niger, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia. The headquarters of the Community is now at Abuja, having been previously headquartered in Lagos. Nigeria.
ACHIEVEMENTS
ACHIEVEMENTS
Promotion of Trade
One of the achievements of ECOWAS is that it has promoted intra-West African trade among member countries. This has contributed to economic growth in the sub-region.
Roads Projects
Another achievement of ECOWAS is the improvement of the road network in the sub-region. One major road project the ECOWAS can be lauded for is the Abidjan-Lagos High Way starting from Elubo through Aflao to Lagos. It can also be congratulated for the Lagos-Nouakchott High way project.
The elimination of Francophone-Anglophone divide
The ECOWAS has afforded both the Anglophone and the Francophone countries within the sub-region an official platform to discuss issues of the sub-region. This has helped to tone down the suspicion and lack of trust between the English and French-speaking countries in West Africa.
Communication
Another achievement of ECOWAS is the achievement of direct telephone communication among member states of the community. Hitherto, direct communication among the various states was absent. Telephone connections were routed through Europe before connecting to another West African country. All these have been largely eliminated.
Free Movement of Persons
Free Movement of Persons
One of the aims of ECOWAS was to ensure the free movement of persons, goods, and services, unhindered within the sub-region. This has been largely successful. A citizen of a member country with valid documents could reside in another member state for a maximum of ninety days without a visa.
Peace and Security
ECOWAS has largely achieved peace and security in the West African sub-region. The establishment of the ECOWAS Monitoring Group has helped to deploy troops
to ensure peace in war-ravaged areas of the sub-region.
ECOWAS Summits
The ECOWAS has regularly organized summits which were attended by Heads of member states. At these summits, the problems of the sub-region were tabled for discussions and solutions recommended.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. a. Highlight six achievements
of the Economic Community of West African States?
2. a. Describe the composition of
the Economic Community of West African States.
b. In which five ways has the ECOWAS
achieved its aims and objectives?
OBJECTIVE
QUESTION ON THE ECOWAS
Test
One
1.
The objective of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is to
A. promote economic development among member states.
B.
achieve African Unity.
C.
establish political unification of West Africa
D.
eradicate all forms of racism in West Africa.
2.
The highest organ of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is
the
A.
Council of Ministers
B.
Secretariat.
C.
Tribunal.
D. Authorities of Heads of State and Government
3.
The main focus of the ECOWAS Monitoring
Group (ECOMOG) is the
A. maintenance of peace in troubled spots of West Africa.
B.
installation of unpopular governments in West Africa.
C.
protection of oil pipelines along the coast of West Africa.
D.
promotion of military rule.
4.
The administrative Headquarters of the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS) is in
A.
Banjul
B.
Accra
C.
Bamako
D. Abuja
5.
The primary objective of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
is to
A.
prevent crimes in West Africa.
B. promote the socio-economic development of member states.
C.
control pollution and environmental degradation.
D.
promote universal human rights.
6.
It is most unlikely for member nations of the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS) to
A. fuse into one political entity.
B.
establish a common customs tariff.
C.
have joint development of transport and communication.
D.
abolish obstacles to the free movement of citizens.
7.
The term ECOMOG means
A.
Economic Community of West African Group
B.
Economic Community Monetary Group
C. ECOWAS Monitoring Group
D.
ECOWAS Movement Group
8.
One of the problems of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
is that
A.
member states do not attend meetings regularly.
B. member states do not have a common currency.
C.
some member states want to contribute large amounts to the community.
D.
it is a rival to the Organization of African Unity.
9.
The first Executive Secretary of the Economic Community of West African States
was
A.
Diallo Telli
B.
Nzo Ekangaki
C. Abubakar Quattara
D.
Salim A. Salim
10.
The ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) was organized to maintain peace in
A.
La Cote D'Ivoire
B.
Benin Republic
C. Liberia
D.
Guinea
Test
Two
1.
All the following are the aims and objectives of the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS) except to
A.
maintain closer relations with member states.
B.
encourage customs union and common market.
C.
raise the political consciousness of the people.
D.
raise people’s standard of living.
2.
Which of the following is not a serious problem of the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS)
A.
the economies of member states are not contemporary.
B.
member states are primary producers.
C.
member states have dependent economies.
D. member states speak different languages.
3.
A sub-organization that was formed mainly for economic purpose is the
A.
Organization of African Unity (OAU)
B.
United Nations Organization (UNO)
C. Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
D.
Commonwealth of Nations
4.
Which of the following Heads of State initiated the formation of the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS)?
A.
Ahmadu Ahidjo and Paul Biya
B. Yakubu Gowan and Gnasingbe Eyadema
C.
Sekou Toure and Siaka Stephens
D.
Dawda Jawara and Abdou Diouf
5.
The last member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is
A.
Niger Republic
B.
Sierra Leone.
C.
The Gambia.
D. Cape Verde
6.
The two countries that jointly promoted the formation of the Economic Community
of West African States (ECOWAS) were
A.
Nigeria and Benin
B.
Senegal and La Cote D’Ivoire
C.
Togo and Ghana
D. Togo and Nigeria
7.
Which of the following is a regional international organization?
A.
International Labour Organization
B.
United Nations Organization
C.
The Commonwealth of Nations
D. Economic Community of West African States.
8.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was established
A. 1975
B.
1976
C.
1977
D.
1978
9.
One of the following is not an aim of the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS)
A.
harmonization of resources of member states for economic development.
B. promotion of socialism.
C.
unifying the various tariff systems in West Africa.
D.
ensuring free movement of persons and services among member states.
10.
Which of the following countries is not a member of the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS)?
A.
Liberia.
B. Cameroon.
C.
Togo.
D.
Ghana.
