The ECOWAS Commission, through its Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture, held the Fifth (5th) Meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Trade and Industry (ECOMOTI-5) in Accra, Ghana, from 11–12 June 2026 to provide high-level political guidance, validate expert recommendations, and take strategic decisions to advance the regional agenda on trade, industry, investment, competition, and consumer protection in support of deeper regional integration and sustainable economic development.

The 5th Meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Trade & Industry (ECOMOTI-5) convened at a critical time, following extensive deliberations in Expert Meetings which produced substantive technical analyses and recommendations across the region’s trade, industry, investment, and competition policy agenda.

While welcoming the Ministers, Hon. Elizabeth OFOSU-ADJARE, Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry of the Republic of Ghana called on ECOWAS Member States to deepen regional integration and accelerate the implementation of trade and industrial policies to strengthen the region’s competitiveness and resilience. She stressed the need for a unified regional voice in global trade negotiations, the development of regional value chains, and the adoption of key regional frameworks to boost industrialisation, investment, and intra-regional trade. She also urged Member States to demonstrate stronger political will to eliminate non-tariff barriers that increase the costs of trade and d undermine regional competitiveness. She concluded by reiterating Ghana’s willingness to work with all Member States to strengthen regional trade to build a prosperous Africa.

Hon. Amdiatta DIABY, Chair, Committee on Trade, Customs and Free Movement of the ECOWAS Parliament, in a goodwill message, emphasized that trade remains one of the most powerful instruments for driving economic growth, job creation, poverty reduction, and strengthening of bonds among ECOWAS peoples. He noted that ECOWAS has developed an impressive framework of trade and integration instruments, yet their effectiveness depends on successfully domesticating and implementing them. He reaffirmed that the Parliament would continue to advocate for stronger political commitment, enhanced accountability, and harmonization of policies and legislation necessary towards advancing regional integration.

In a virtual address, Dr. Ngozi OKONJO-IWEALA, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), highlighted West Africa’s strong economic performance as a solid foundation for leveraging trade to advance national and regional development goals. She stressed the importance of integrating into global value chains to enhance competitiveness, generate jobs and expand economic opportunities for ECOWAS Member States and the African continent. She urged ECOWAS to seize emerging opportunities and transition from commodity-led growth through investing in infrastructure, energy, trade facilitation, and digitalisation.

Dr. OKONJO-IWEALA also commended ECOWAS Member States for their progress in implementing the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, noting that the region’s implementation rate of 87% exceeds the African continental average of 78%. Emphasising the role of trade as a catalyst for development, she stated that “the WTO is a tool that should be utilised to drive all ECOWAS developmental goals.”

Dr. Kalilou SYLLA, the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture of the ECOWAS Commission, called for accelerated regional integration to strengthen West Africa’s resilience amid global economic uncertainty, including geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and slowing growth in trade. While noting the region’s continued economic resilience, Dr. SYLLA stressed that deeper integration is essential to safeguard gains and enhance competitiveness. He urged the Ministers to provide strategic direction on key priorities, including implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), the ECOWAS Common Market, the Common Investment Market, digitalisation of trade systems, and the removal of non-tariff barriers, as well as strengthening competition and consumer protection frameworks. He reiterated ECOWAS’ commitment to support Member States in the practical execution of initiatives to improve cross-border trade and economic growth.

“Our negotiating strength derives from our unity, and we owe it to the citizens who depend on this Community to promote and protect it,” he concluded.

In his opening remarks, Hon. Alpha Ibrahim SESAY, Minister of Trade and Industry of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chairperson of the ECOWAS Ministers of Trade and Industry, highlighted that the session convened at a challenging time for global trading order but it affirms ECOWAS’s resolve to advance regional integration for the benefit of its 400 million citizens. He highlighted that Ministers would provide high level political guidance on key issues with the goal of promoting inclusive growth, intra-regional trade, and deeper integration into the multilateral trading system.

On the margins of the meeting, the Ministers, led by Hon. Elizabeth OFOSU-ADJARE, Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Republic of Ghana, visited Kasapreko Plc, a leading beverage

manufacturing company in Accra. During the visit, Hon. Alpha Ibrahim SESAY, Minister of Trade and Industry of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chairperson of the ECOWAS Ministers of Trade and Industry, commended the company’s management for its contribution to regional trade, job creation, industrial development, and economic growth.

At the end of the meeting, the Ministers vetted and validated the Regulation on Cross-Border Consumer Protection within the ECOWAS Region and the revised legal text relating to the ECOWAS Quality Agency (ECOWAQ) for onward submission to Council of Ministers. They also adopted the WACIP 2026-2030 Strategy and implementation plan as well as 14 ECOWAS Standards (ECOSTANDs) relating to foods and agricultural products. In addition, the Ministers provided strategic guidance on regional trade and economic priorities, including the post-MC14 WTO roadmap, AfCFTA implementation, the ECOWAS Common Market, trade facilitation, non-tariff barriers, and bilateral trade relations with major partners. Finally, they adopted a final report outlining agreed actions and follow-up measures.