The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority, (ERCA) has held a three 3-day workshop in Dakar, Senagal, aimed at increasing the visibility of its programmes and activities across the region.
The Executive Director of ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority, Dr Simeon Koffi, stated that the work shop was aimed at reviewing the ERCA’s communication plan drafted by a consultant and as such, critical work needed to be done on the draft by the communication experts which were harnessed from different countries.
Dr Simon Koffi who assured experts of a conducive environment to enable them bring out the best for a successful ERCA communication activities review at the workshop also thank the President of the ECOWAS Commission’s President, Dr Omar Allieu Touray, and the hierarchy of the commission for the opportunity to serve in such a capacity.
Koffi while giving a brief background of ERCA stated that “in 2008, ECOWAS adopted a Regional Competition Policy and in the same vein, the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) was established to implement the policy”.
The objective of this regional initiative was to support and promote open competition within the ECOWAS region, including the protection of consumers’ economic interests, through the implementation of Community Competition Rules.
“The awareness, information, and advocacy activities carried out during the second half of 2021 in eleven (11) Member States revealed a low level of knowledge of the regional competition mechanism and the ERCA among the majority of national stakeholders. Having started its activities in 2019, the relative operational infancy of the ERCA could partly explain the low awareness of its existence and activities. To strengthen dialogue and information sharing between all stakeholders, and to raise awareness of this mechanism for promoting competition within ECOWAS, the ERCA has decided to strengthen its communication activities”
Earlier, communication experts,
Nehemie M’Boke, Executive Director of the Ivorian-based Communication Trader BTP, Technology Agro-business; Emmanuel Daudu, Chief Executive Officer of ZENITH Global Media Services & Consultancy; and ECOWAS Radio News Director, Raymond Kolubah Zarbay in their separate speeches assured Koffi of an amazing outcome.
They noted that by the time they are done with the document, ERCA would be the most visible agency of ECOWAS.
Hauwa M.
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