ECOWAS: Reopening of borders beckons

The ECOWAS Ministerial Coordination Committee on Transport, Logistics and Trade subsequent to meetings held via Visio conference has made deliberations on the steps to take towards the reopening of internal borders within the sub-region.

The recommendations chart the path of caution and progressiveness. A communication available on the official ECOWAS website suggests that «the Ministers recommended a gradual and coordinated opening of land borders and airports of ECOWAS Member States based on health data on the evolution of the pandemic and called for the appropriate fiscal measures by governments to support the effective implementation of the guidelines»


It further provides details on the implementation of the roadmap «the Ministers recommended a three-phased approach to the opening of land and air borders beginning with local internal domestic air and land transport within ECOWAS Member States, then a second phase which involves the opening of land and air borders between ECOWAS Member States, to allow the free movement of goods and persons on the basis of strict application of the proposed guidelines for the harmonization and facilitation of cross-border trade and transport in the ECOWAS region»


These recommendations are pending approval from the Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government to take full effect.

ECOWAS, in the event the recommendations are approved, will be demonstrating solidarity and harmony amongst its member states, which translates into decision making as a bloc.

Image credit: Modern Ghana

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