JAPAN and the WORLD Magazine JANUARY ISSUE 2016 #Issue 14 | Page 70

ECOWAS
THE WORLD
ECOWAS
THE RISE OF
WEST AFRICA
西アフリカの興隆
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY H.E. MS. YOUNGOR TELEWODA, AMBASSADOR OF
LIBERIA AND CHAIRPERSON OF THE ECOWAS DIPLOMATIC GROUP IN TOKYO.
15 WEST AFRICAN STATES
BENIN
BURKINA FASO
CAPE VERDE
GAMBIA
GHANA
GUINEA
GUINEA-BISSAU
IVORY COAST
LIBERIA
MALI
NIGER
NIGERIA
SENEGAL
SIERRA LEONE
TOGO
71 // JANUARY 2016
T
he
Economic
Community
of
West African States (ECOWAS)
was established on May 28, 1975,
following consultations by leaders in
the sub-region and in line with the call by the
United Nations Economic Commissions for
Africa’s regional entities to establish viable
economic communities for the purpose of
economic integration. Considered one of the
pillars of the African Economic Community,
ECOWAS was set up to foster the ideal of
collective self-sufficiency for its member
states. As a trading union, it is also meant
to create a single, large trading bloc through
economic cooperation.
Economic integration in the sub-region has
a combined GDP of $734.8 billion generated
by the following sectors; industry, transport,
telecommunications, energy, agriculture,
natural resources, commerce, monetary and
financial issues, social as well as cultural
matters. ECOWAS member states are located
within an area of 5,112,903 sq. km; with an
estimated population of 340 million.
The Vision of ECOWAS is the creation of
a borderless region where the population
has access to its abundant resources and is
able to exploit same through the creation
of opportunities. ECOWAS has created an
integrated region where the population
enjoys free movement, have access to
efficient education and health systems
and engage in economic and commercial
activities while living in dignity in an
atmosphere of peace and security. ECOWAS
is meant to be a region governed in
accordance with the principles of democracy,
rule of law and good governance.
ECOWAS is made up of 15 countries
located in the West African sub-region of
Africa. The Member States, are namely:
Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape-Verde, Cote
d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-
Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria,
Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo. The
ECOWAS Commission is the executive
organ of ECOWAS. The Headquarters
is based in Abuja, Nigeria. Its mission
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