PROBLEMS FACING ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (ECOWAS) INTEGRATION AND THE WAY FORWAR

Abstract

This paper identified the problems facing Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and made recommendations that would enhance integration in the sub-region of West Africa. The term integration was clarified, which means the process of coming into a community by different nations for the purpose of forming a common front for development. From the discussion, it was discovered that ECOWAS had been bedeviled with innumerable   problems, such as insecurity, economic problems, political problems and so on. Hence, the efforts to integrate the sub-region are still moving at millipede pace. Based on these myriad problems militating against ECOWAS integration, some recommendations were made. Among others were that, there must be commitment of the leaders of ECOWAS, appreciation of democratic principles and involvement of the people. The implication of this therefore, is that if the ECOWAS member states are dedicated in line with ECOWAS integration policy, there would be advancement of integration in the West Africa sub-region.