(a) What is economic integration?
(b) Outline any three short-comings of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
(c) Highlight any three achievements of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS)
Explanation
(a) Economic integration is an arrangement among nations that typically includes the reduction or elimination of trade barriers and the coordination of monetary and fiscal policies.
(b) - Political instability: Political instability in member states results in a different approach to ECOWAS issues by leaders of member states.
- Inadequate finance: Many member states do not fulfill their financial obligation as at and when due. This is cripping the effective operation of ECOWAS.
- Colonial linkage: This is another factor affecting ECOWAS. Francophone nations that are members of ECOWAS may not lend their weight to matters of the organization that will negatively affect France.
(c) - Road construction between big cities: The highways Lagos-Abidjan, and Nouakchott-Lagos have made commuting much easier than it was before. The road network Elubo-Alflao-Lagos is one of the achievements.
- The relations between the Anglophone and Francophone have been stabilized. It has been done thanks to ECOWAS passport. It has significantly eased the movement of people within those areas.
- Telephone network for the member states: Nowadays, interconnection is available for all countries of the African Union.