ECOWAS Business News

Demystify. Unpack. Explain *EXCLUSIVE*: RWANDA GRANTS VISA-FREE ACCESS TO GHANA *ACCRA, Ghana (22 June, 2019)* -- Reports reaching East Africa Rising Group, one of Africa in Focus' research arms, indicate that Rwanda has granted visa-free to Ghana with immediate effect. Ghana joins four other ECOWAS Member States of Benin; Côte d'Ivoire; Guinea; and Senegal in enjoying visa-free access. In an unpublished study by the Africa in Focus' Research & Communications Unit conducted in 2018, we revealed that out of the six West African Monetary Zone member States (Ghana; Guinea; Gambia; Nigeria; Liberia; Sierra Leone), Ghana is the only member State to enjoy visa-free access to almost all member States of the East African Community (Kenya; Uganda; Tanzania); save Burundi and South Sudan, where visas are a necessity. ABOUT EAST AFRICA RISING EAR is an initiative of the Africa in Focus (AIF) Research and Communications Unit (ReComm) that seeks to integrate East African perspecti...

Demystify. Unpack. Explain *EXCLUSIVE: "EAST AFRICA RISING" TURNS FIVE* *ACCRA, Ghana (10 June, 2019)* -- In a year (and month) in which we celebrate five years of "Africa in Focus", the only Pan-African initiative of its kind in Ghana, and probably the sub-region, we are happy to also be celebrating *East Africa*, which is a region that lends itself to significant comparisons and important scrutiny. That the only continental institution of its kind in the world, the African Union, has its headquarters in East Africa, may already be sufficient for study. But there is more. East Africa is home to: A sophisticated and efficient *mobile money architecture* (cross-border transactions are becoming the new normal, where in West Africa, we have not quite gotten there!) A *regional legislature*, which laws are binding on six members of the East African Community (EAC) A *Northern Corridor Initiative* that is helping fast-track integration on sectors across specific East Afr...

Demystify. Unpack. Explain & EXCLUSIVE: #PODCAST OUT NOW ON INTERVIEW OF E K BENSAH JR on Africa's Continental Free Trade Area ACCRA, Ghana (6 June, 2019) -- Ahead of the official launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at the AU Summit in Niger, in July 2019, Africa in Focus/Ecowas Business News has been involved in outreach with strategic stakeholders on AfCFTA. To this end, AIF's Head of Research & Communications, E K Bensah JR, has participated in an interview for Johannesbourg-based "Kaya FM" tonight. A pre-recording of an interview conducted earlier this week, it airs tonight to help explain the following questions around AfCFTA: What is the concept behind AfCFTA? What is it trying to resolve? Will regional blocs disappear with onset of AfCFTA? We often hear ECOWAS is one of the more advanced regional blocs. What are key developments? Nigeria has not opted into AfCFTA. Can it still proceed? ...

Demystify. Unpack. Explain #SaveTheDate An interview about #AfCFTA on Johannesburg-based radio station * Kaya FM * @9am GMT...on 4 June, 2019 ...with *E K Bensah Jr*, Independent ECOWAS & AU Policy Analyst /AU Service provider The Ghana National Bureau has resolved to celebrate the " ECOWAS Brown Card Day '', an insurance scheme protocol signed on 29th May, 1982 in Cotonou. The scheme was designed to aid free movement of persons and goods and services across national boundaries of ECOWAS member states. 3. This Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is originating its Regional Competition Authority , on the 31st of May 2019 , in Banjul, The Gambia. The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) is organised to perform the Regional Competition Rules affirmed by the ECOWAS Authority in 2008 . The Rules are fundamental to develop, manage and support competition and enhance economic efficiency in production, trade and commerce at the r...

The ECOWAS Commission has announced the appointment of Mrs. Henrietta Uzoamaka Didigu, as the first Executive Director of the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA). According to a statement by the ECOWAS Commission on Monday in Abuja, the appointment, which is at the instance of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, is for an interim period of 12 months, allowing the appointee to undertake crucial establishment activities that would lead to the full operationalization of ERCA in the shortest possible time. Prior to her appointment, Didigu, was the Technical Adviser on Institutional Reform to the President of the Commission. She brings on board, over 28 years' experience in regional integration and chaired, during the period, numerous high level negotiation missions, meetings and projects for country and region. Before joining the Commission in 2000, Didigu, who holds a Master's Degree in Law (LLM) from the prestigious Duke University of Law, N...

Demystify. Unpack. Explain Head of AIF Research & Comm's Unit Visits Association of African Universities on "Agenda2063 Youth Engagement Series" Although Agenda2063 remains a working African vision since  2013, African activists continue to reference the UN's SDG in their discussions at the expense of Agenda2063 . Failure to do so now will affect how young people appreciate the document as helping shape a better future for them, including the important role the AU has in the prosecution of this . It is to this end that the Accra-based Association of African Universities , an agency of the AU, has resolved to change the script with the creation of "Agenda2063 Youth Engagement Series". The series will involve educational tours of Agenda2063 around selected educational institutions all over Ghana. The format will be three-fold, and will include a training; a plenary showcasing Agenda2063's aspirations with a moderator; and a pitch to.explore which stu...

Demystify. Unpack. Explain #OPPORTUNITY: AU Launches Call for Proposals on Consultancy Services to undertake Gender Mainstreaming Study in the Energy Sector in Africa ---------- Forwarded message --------- From: Monica Maduekwe < MMaduekwe@ecreee.org > Date: Mon, 6 May 2019, 11:39 Subject: AU Launches call for proposals on Consultancy Services to undertake Gender Mainstreaming Study in the Energy Sector in Africa To: Forwgender < gender@ecreee.org > Dear All, The African Union (AU) has launched a call for proposals for Consultancy Services to undertake Gender Mainstreaming Study in the Energy Sector in Africa. The study will inform the development of a Harmonised Policy for Gender & Energy in Africa, as well as guide the AUC in designing a Programme for Mainstreaming Gender in Energy. Kindly find attached the bid document. More information can be gotten here: https://au.int/en/bids/20190423/terms-reference-consultancy-services-undertake-gender-mainstreaming-study-energy...