The Chairperson of the ECOWAS Ministers of Trade and Industry, who is also the Minister of Trade and Industry of Sierra Leone, Alpha Ibrahim Sesay, has urged colleague Ministers of Trade to bear in mind that there is only one ECOWAS, and deepening regional integration is to the advantage of all.

Minister Sesay was speaking at the opening ceremony of the 5th joint meeting of ECOWAS ministers of trade and industry, being held at the Marriott Hotel in Accra.

He said it is important that ECOWAS remains a stronger and united regional economic community, as it will create a safer and prosperous area where West African businesses will thrive and blossom while people enjoy the benefits that the region has to offer.

“Notwithstanding some of the outward difficulties, the ECOWAS Region remains resolute, resilient, and more determined in shaping and redefining the ECOWAS we want for our over 400 million people.” Minister Sesay stated.

As chair of ECOWAS Ministers of Trade and Industry, the Minister called on officials of trade ministries of ECOWAS, the ECOWAS   Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Heads of Regional Entities, alongside other trade officials, to make proper use of the meeting by reviewing the reports of Senior Trade experts for their consideration and decision.

Chairman of the ECOWAS Ministers of trade and Industry, Minster Alpha Ibrahim sesay furthered  that after the various sessions to be held during the two-day meeting, the work program will be presented to them, and it will require collective resolve to provide high-level political guidance and to validate the recommendations proffered to this meeting.

Our intentions must be deliberate and purposeful in securing favorable decisions to the outcomes of WTO MC14, Status update on the AFTCFTA implementation, Digitization trade processes, Trade Facilitation and Non -Tariff Barriers in ECOWAS, among others,” he concluded.

The Hon Minister of Trade and Industry of the Government of Ghana, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare welcomed her colleague ministers to Accra and wished them a happy deliberation during the meeting.

She said that, as a community member from about twelve African countries with over fifty million people, such engagements position the authority to do more to ensure matters of trade and industry are properly addressed for the good of all.

Ghana, she said, remains committed to working together with other member states to promote exports, increase production, and succeed in cross-border transactions during regional trade.

The minister encouraged everyone to work alongside each other in focus and attentiveness, discussing the different issues and proffering solutions in areas that require such.

A video message of hope and encouragement from Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, was part of the program, together with statements from representatives of other trade organizations.

The overall objective of the 5th Meeting of ECOWAS Ministers of Trade & Industry is to provide high-level political guidance, validate the recommendations from Expert-level and Senior Officials meetings, and take the decisions that are necessary to advance the ECOWAS agenda on trade, industry, investment, and competition and consumer protection.

Credit – Princetta Williams, Information Attaché, SLHC Accra

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 15th June 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)