On 16 June 2026, ECOWAS met in Banjul, The Gambia, to remove the structural barriers hindering regional economic integration. Although the organisation has existed for 40 years, official trade remains stagnant at between 10 per cent and 15 per cent of the total. This weakness can be attributed to non-tariff barriers and the significance of an informal sector that remains poorly integrated. The priority objective is to formalise this ecosystem by building capacity and developing trade corridors. The implementation of a simplified trade regime has been identified as the key driver of transformation. This scheme aims to remove the day-to-day difficulties faced by small traders in order to facilitate the free flow of goods. The ultimate goal is to transform this local trade into a structured engine of growth for the whole of West Africa.
A decisive step towards West Africa’s economic integration took place on 16 June 2026 in Banjul, The Gambia. Experts and technical missions from ECOWAS came together for a strategic round-table discussion on the structural barriers that continue to hinder trade within the bloc. Despite ECOWAS having been in existence for 40 years, intra-regional trade has historically plateaued at between 10% and 15% of total trade. This stagnation can be attributed to the persistence of non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and an informal sector that remains the true, albeit invisible, driving force behind the regional economy. For the experts gathered in Banjul, the urgent priority is to transform this ecosystem into a formalised system through capacity-building and the development of trade corridors.
“The simplified trade regime currently in place at regional level ‘is a requirement, a necessity for businesses and cross-border traders, and also a necessity for the formalisation of the informal sector; Africa is lagging behind – today, in our region, we are still lagging behind. In terms of integration, we have some way to go; our trade volumes stand at around 12 per cent or 15 per cent. We can do better if we manage to eliminate the non-tariff barriers that our traders and other stakeholders encounter within ECOWAS.”
Mamadou Koné, Delegate, Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Côte d’Ivoire
The contrast is striking: whilst official statistics are low, the reality on the ground is quite different. If informal trade were taken into account, the volume of trade between neighbouring countries would rise dramatically. Razack Yessoufou, Director of Trade Facilitation at the Benin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, sheds crucial light on this dynamic.
“It is a good solution if we can have a system that takes into account the difficulties faced by cross-border traders and that can facilitate the movement of goods. Today, when you look at the reports that have been produced, the volume of goods crossing borders informally is significant, since, according to the statistics, intra-community trade accounts for 15 per cent of the total volume. But when you add in informal trade, the figure quickly rises to 70 or 75 per cent of trade between neighbouring countries.”
Razack Yessoufou, Director of Trade Facilitation at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Benin
The technical missions in Banjul, which will continue until 19 June 2026, also aim to harmonise competition, ensure fiscal transparency and protect consumers. The ultimate challenge remains to translate these technical protocols into tangible benefits for the 400 million consumers in the ECOWAS region, notably through job creation and securing food supplies.
