Interview
EDWARD Singhatey, vice president, Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Commission, speaks to Anayo Ezugwu, staff writer, Realnews, in Lagos, about the West Africa Civil Society Forum, challenges facing civil society organisation, and integration in the region. Excerpts
Realnews: What does West Africa Civil Society Forum, WACSOF, and Community Strategic Framework meeting intend to achieve in ECOWAS member states?
Singhatey: Actually, it is not a WACSOF meeting. It is a meeting between ECOWAS and civil society. Since WACSOF is the umbrella organisation for civil societies within West Africa we periodically meet with them and consult on our community strategic framework.
Realnews: Looking at the civil society in West Africa and its partnership with ECOWAS, how effective has it been in asking for accountability and socio-economic developments in the region ?
Singhatey: It has been effective as possible as it can be bearing in mind all activities even that of the civil society organisation is hinged on availability of funds. We know that some of the challenges faced by civil society organisations and NGOs are lack of funds and therefore most of their activities within member states cannot be properly implemented. But what we do is that we consult within the community strategic framework to ensure that our vision 2020 is achieved and that the citizenry is properly appraised with what we are doing.
Realnews: What is the major target of this community strategic framework?
Singhatey: The major goal first of all is to have a borderless region, borderless ECOWAS, peaceful ECOWAS, progressive and cohesive ECOWAS. This is the basic objective of the community strategic framework within which we have various goals for infrastructure and development, socio-economic and also political cohesion as well. So those are the main pillars and objectives that we have. And the strategic framework what it does is to align all of our programmes and activities to be able to achieve the goals of having a borderless, peaceful, cohesive and progressive region.
Realnews: Let’s appraise the community strategic framework, how has it performed, has it been able to actualise any of these objectives?
Singhatey: Well, obviously, it is work in progress. I’m sure you will agree with me that all ECOWAS activities and programmes are hinged on availability of funds that come in the form of community levy contributions from member states. Now when those funds are not forth coming as they should, it is difficult for ECOWAS to implement the programmes and activities that will achieve our vision 2020.
Therefore, there has been some progress in some areas such as free movement and migration even though there is still a lot to be done. There has also being a lot of progress in areas of peace and security within certain member states. I would like to cite The Gambia for example along with several other areas. But to appraise it, we have not achieved everything that we would have like to achieve. But it is work in progress and we will not relent until we do have a positive impact on our member states.
Realnews: How do you rate the economic integration among the member states?
Singhatey: We have already gotten the Economic Trade Liberalisation Scheme, ETLS, in place. We have got the common external tariff, which should be fully applicable within member states hopefully come January 2018. We are doing a lot in this area even though there is still a lot of work to be done to encourage member states to come fully on board and apply these protocols.
Realnews: Apart from funding what other challenges are you facing?
Singhatey: Apart from funding I guess first of all we have capacity problem at the commission. We are going through an institution reform process that we hope will make ECOWAS more efficient and effective and be more cost effective to run. So generally, we do have challenges but we are trying to address them.
Realnews: Would agree with the people that said lack of political will by some of the government of member states has slowed down the achievement of vision 2020?
Singhatey: I think lack of political will is a little bit too harsh. I think that what we need to do since we have 15 member states that all need to be on the same page is to increase our coordination and ensure that all member states agree on the regional programmes. And where we already have them in place is to ensure that we apply them in a harmonised fashion.
Realnews: Morocco is planning to join the region all body. Is ECOWAS ready to adopt Morocco?
Singhatey: The only thing we have done as a commission is being tasked by the heads of states to come up with an impact of membership on the region. So we are only technicians. We don’t take final decision. And we can only come up with our technical input and provide that to the heads of states to make a decision.
– Sept. 29, 2017 @ 18:30 GMT |
Tags: Anayo Ezugwu Edward Singhatey Why Civil Society Organisations cannot implement their Activities in ECOWAS - Singhatey
