By Omar Bah
The Joint Committee of the ECOWAS Parliament is currently holding a collaborative meeting in Banjul, The Gambia, focusing on implementing the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence, and Establishment.
The conference aims to tackle the challenges and opportunities associated with the Protocol and work towards realizing ECOWAS’s vision of a cohesive West African region. Notable addresses were delivered by Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof, the Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment of The Gambia, and Rt Hadja Memounatou Ibrahim, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.
The Protocol seeks to create a borderless community allowing unrestricted movement, business establishment, and residence across member states. Its implementation challenges include harmonizing national laws, coordination among member states, and resource allocation. The meeting will conclude on August 30 with a communiqué outlining key recommendations and decisions.
