The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority, through the Programme to Support Competition and Safety of Consumer Products in Sub-Saharan Africa – West Africa Component, and the European Union have reaffirmed their joint commitment to strengthening competition policy and consumer protection across West Africa during the National Seminar on Competition Law and Policy held in Banjul, The Gambia.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, the Executive Director of the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority, Dr Simeon Koffi, emphasised the indispensable role of multi-stakeholder cooperation in tackling the structural and emerging competition challenges facing the region.
He further added that Media, Public Administrations, international organisations, regional organisations and all stakeholders should work together to address the competition challenges facing the region, stressing that only “through a coordinated, inclusive and forward-looking approach can the resilient, fair, and integrated markets that the citizens of West Africa deserve be truly built”.
”Through the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority, we shall continue strengthening cooperation with national competition authorities, the West African Economic and Monetary Union, other Regional Economic Communities, the African Competition Forum, and our international partners.” He stated.
The renewed partnership comes at a pivotal moment, as West African markets face mounting pressures from rapid digitalisation, the expansion of cross-border commerce, and the emergence of complex anti-competitive practices that transcend national boundaries.
The three-day seminar, which is the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority Programme to Support Competition and Safety of Consumer Products in Sub-Saharan Africa – West Africa Component and the Government of The Gambia, underscored that no single institution can address these challenges in isolation and that durable solutions require the convergence of public, regional, and international actors around a shared agenda.
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Speaking on behalf of the Programme to Support Competition and Safety of Consumer Products in Sub-Saharan Africa – West Africa Component, Ms Mariana Tavares recalled that the Consumer and Competition Programme is designed to support regional and national institutions in West Africa through three core objectives.
“The first, Strengthening Regulatory Frameworks, assists regional and national competition authorities such as the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority and the Gambia Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in nearby countries to formulate and align robust competition and consumer protection policies,” Ms Tavares stated.
Speaking at the seminar, the Gambian Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Mr Mod Ceesay, represented by the Deputy Permanent Secretary, Mrs Mariama Fofana, reaffirmed The Gambia’s unwavering commitment to fair markets, consumer welfare, and regional regulatory harmonisation, setting a strong political tone for the proceedings.
“Competition is a cornerstone of every successful and resilient economy. Well-functioning and competitive markets stimulate innovation, improve productivity, attract investment, enhance consumer choice, and contribute significantly to economic development. Creating an enabling environment that promotes fair competition, safeguards consumer rights, and supports private sector development remains a key national priority. The Government of The Gambia highly values the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority’s leadership and encourages continued efforts towards the harmonisation of competition policies to facilitate greater regulatory certainty and enhance cross-border trade.” She said.
The convergence between the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority’s regulatory mandate, the Programme to Support Competition and Safety of Consumer Products in Sub-Saharan Africa West Africa Component’s capacity-building mission, and the Gambian Competition and Consumer Protection Commission marks a significant step forward for the ECOWAS region.
Together, these institutions and programmes are positioning West Africa to confront the realities of the digital economy, attract local and foreign investors through predictable enforcement mechanisms, and guarantee that consumers benefit from the full promise of regional economic integration.
The collaboration also signals to development partners that the ECOWAS region through the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority is firmly committed to aligning with international best practices in competition law and consumer welfare.
