ECOWAS
...irection and control of the Community The Council of Ministers The Council comprises the Minister in charge of ECOWAS Affairs and any other Minister of each Member State. Council is responsible for the functioning and development of the Community The Community Parliament The Economic and Social Council The Community Court of Justice The Executive Secretariat The Fund for Cooperation Compensation and Development Challenges Faced Numerous problems have been encountered by ECOWAS in the enhancement of the process of regional integration of West Africa. Among the most important of these problems are: the political instability and bad governance that have plagued many of the countries; the weakness of the national economies and their insufficient diversification; the absence of reliable road, telecommunications and energy infrastructure; the insufficient political will exhibited by some member States; the bad economic policies in certain cases; the multiplicity of organizations for regional integration with the same objectives; the irregularity in the payment of financial contributions to the budgets of the institutions; the failure to involve the civil society, the private sector and mass movements in the process of integration; the defective nature of the integrational machinery in certain cases. ACHIEVEMENTS OF ECOWAS 1 Regional Peace and Security Non-aggression protocol in 1978 – Adopted by the Authority of Heads of State and Government. A defense assistance protocol in 1981 A declaration of political principles in July 1991 This declaration is a plea for democratic principles in the sub-region condemns seizure of power by force of arms. Creation of a peace-keeping force, “ECOMOG” in 1990. Liberia Eleven Member States of ECOWAS provided contingents for the operations in Liberia The mandate; restore peace, ensure security and law and order manage humanitarian activities aimed at reducing the sufferings of the people and to create favorable conditions for the holding in Liberia of the free and democratic presidential and parliamentary elections of 19 July 1997. Sierra Leone Followed the overthrow of President Ahmed Teejan Kabbah In February 1998. ECOMOG managed to restore the constitutional legality and reinstated the government of the democratically elected President Contingents provided by; Ghana, Guinea, Mali and Nigeria. However they were later replaced by UNAMSIL. Guinea Bissau. Followed a rebellion by the armed forces in June 1998, led by a former Chief of Defense Staff Kumba Yalá. They deposed Premier João Bernardo Vieira who had governed from In Nov. 1980, who has also come to power through a coup that deposed Luis Cabral, president since 1974. Vieira had asked for the assistance of troops from Senegal and the Republic of Guinea to help fight against an insurgency movement. Though many cease-fire agreements were signed, the elected government was finally overthrown. Contingents provided by Benin, Niger and Togo Cote d’Ivoire We are reminded of the coup that took place in 1999. Followed a failed coup attempt by rebel soldiers on September 19, 2002....