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 In an unpublished study by the Africa in Focus' Research & Communications Unit conducted in 2018, we revealed that out of the six West African Monetary Zone member States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?