By Saidou Baldeh
A three day regional forum on operational manual implementation is underway in Banjul.
The forum organized by National offices of the Economic Community of West African States’ aims to address the challenges facing the National Offices in maintaining a standard working procedure and ensure adherence to the rules of procedures.
At least nine countries including The Gambia, Liberia, Senegal, Mali, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Guinea Conakry, and Guinea Bissau within the sub region are attending the forum.
The participating countries will discuss the operational manual implementation of ECOWAS National Offices within the jurisdiction of the sub-region.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lamin Jobe, minister of trade expressed with delight for Gambia hosting the meeting.
Meanwhile, ECOWAS Regional Integration process aims to promote economic integration through programs that enhance the harmonization of economic policies and at creating a common market.
“This needs collective efforts of all stakeholders, saying more so the heads of ECOWAS National Offices who are directly tasked to strengthen coordination to facilitate and ensure effective implementation of ECOWAS programs in member states,” Mr Jobe said.
He described ECOWAS National Offices as the fundamental in archiving the objectives of regional integration.
He said: “the government of the Gambia attached great importance to the attainment of the ECOWAS Vision 2020 and The Gambia’s National Development Plan considers regional integration as one of the critical enablers of development with a focus on regional integration and cross border cooperation, transport and trade.”
For his part, Yahya Samateh, director of regional integration and head of ECOWAS National Office, The Gambia called for collective responsibilities between ECOWAS Commission and the member states.
“However, we must also acknowledged the giant strive taken by member states and as well as the Commission in ensuring that institutional setup required for the implementation of the manual are in place,” he said.
Mr Samateh further called on member states to collectively work for the interest of the community and its people.
