Theory question 112
ECOWAS(a) List four organs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
(b) Outline four obstacles that hinder the implementation of the aims and objectives of the ECOWAS.
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(a) Any four: Authority of Heads of State and Government; Council of Ministers; Executive Secretariat (Commission since 2007); ECOWAS Parliament; Community Court of Justice; ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (formerly Fund for Co-operation); technical and specialised commissions.
(b) Any four: political instability and coups; language and colonial differences (Anglophone/Francophone); different currencies and monetary zones; poor transport and communication links; members' loyalty to other bodies (e.g. CFA/UEMOA ties with France); non-payment of dues; border closures and expulsion of aliens; similar export products, so little intra-regional trade; leadership rivalry and suspicion of Nigeria.
The Executive Secretariat became the ECOWAS Commission in 2007, after this paper.