The ECOWAS Commission through its Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture is holding a meeting of Senior Trade Officials from Member States in Accra Ghana from 08 – 10 June, 2026 to consider and make recommendations that will help navigate and respond strategically to the current multilateral, continental, and bilateral trade landscape. The meeting is holding ahead of the 5^th Meeting of the Ministers of Trade and Industry (ECOMOTI) scheduled to take place in Accra from 11 – 12 June, 2026.

The 3-day meeting will review key regional and international trade priorities, including a roadmap to consolidate a coordinated ECOWAS response to outcomes of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) 14^th Ministerial Conference, the status of African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) negotiations and implementation, and the region’s bilateral trade relations with major partners. It will also assess trade facilitation and non-tariff barriers to identify bottlenecks and propose solutions to ease cross-border trade, while reviewing progress on the ECOWAS Common Market Roadmap and agreeing on priority actions to accelerate its implementation in line with continental and global trade commitments.

H.E. Amb. Mohammed Lawan GANA, the ECOWAS Resident Representative to the Republic of Ghana, speaking on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, called for strengthened regional cooperation to advance trade integration across West Africa.  He emphasised the region’s vast economic potential, stressing that deeper integration, policy harmonisation, and removal of trade barriers are essential to unlocking growth, creating jobs, and enhancing competitiveness. He further urged the Senior Trade Officials to translate regional commitments into practical outcomes that strengthen value chains, support SMEs, and ensure inclusive and sustainable economic development.

In his remarks at the opening ceremony on behalf of Dr. Kalilou SYLLA, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mr. Kolawole SOFOLA, the Director of Trade of the ECOWAS Commission, underscored the urgent need for ECOWAS Member States to strengthen regional integration and economic resilience amid growing global trade challenges, including geopolitical tensions, protectionist measures, supply chain disruptions, and rising costs. He

called for the accelerated implementation of the ECOWAS Common Market Programme, the removal non-tariff barriers, and the digitalisation of trade processes to facilitate regional trade and maximise the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“Now more than ever, there is a need to converge as regional bloc and build resilience,” Mr.

Sofola added.

While opening the meeting, Hon. Sampson AHI (MP), the Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry of the Republic of Ghana called for accelerated and decisive action to deepen ECOWAS regional integration. He stressed that a stronger and more integrated ECOWAS market is a necessity as well as a powerful instrument for building resilience, attracting investments, job creation, and delivering shared prosperity for our citizens. He urged Member States to move beyond policy formulation to effective implementation of existing regional trade frameworks, including the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, Common External Tariff, African Continental Free Trade Agreement, and digital trade strategies.

He added that “The most elegantly crafted framework is only as powerful as its implementation. The greatest challenge before us is not the absence of policy, it is the imperative of turning policy into practice, and practice into prosperity.”

The report of the experts’ meeting will be presented to the 5^th Joint Meeting of the Ministers of Trade and Industry.