Theory question 115
West Africa and ECOWAS(a) Outline any four objectives of the ECOWAS
(b) State any five problems that have limited the achievement of these objectives
(c) Suggest any three ways of solving these problems.
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(a) Promote economic co-operation and integration; remove customs duties and trade barriers among members; free movement of persons, goods, services and capital; common external tariff; joint development of transport, communications, energy, agriculture and industry; harmonise economic policies and eventually a common currency; raise living standards
(b) Different currencies and monetary zones; language differences (English, French, Portuguese); members produce similar primary goods; poor transport and communication links; political instability, coups and civil wars; failure to pay dues; loyalty to former colonial powers and other groupings (e.g. CEAO); fear of domination by bigger members (Nigeria); smuggling and border closures
(c) Single currency and payment clearing house; better roads, railways and telecommunications; diversifying production to increase trade; political stability and democracy; enforcing payment of dues; harmonising laws and teaching each other's languages
Match each solution to a problem in (b).