Explain the problems facing the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS).

Explanation

Problems facing the Economic Community of West African states (ECOWAS) are:

(i)Unstable political System :Change of government has been a recurring phenomenon in West Africa. Almost all the member states have experienced military intervention in their political system. This is very unhealthy because attention is drawn away from the development of the country, issues of international dimension, etc, to spending money on personal security, internal security and stability.

(ii)Language and Cultural barrier:West Africa as a whole has no common identified language, thereby creating a barrier to the achievement of the organisation's set- goals.

(iii)Differences in Ideology:Individual member nations' ideological stance can affect the objectives of the organisation . There is the tendency for each state to be influenced by this ideology in determining its seriousness in pursuance of the objectives of the sub-regional body.

(iv)Problem of finance:To be able to develop and implement some of their projects, member states of the sub-region resort to foreign aids and loans. It means that much revenue accruing to these states will be spent in financing these loans. The problem then is that ECOWAS cannot carry out most of its beautiful programmes because of the inability of member-states to pay their dues to the organisation.

(v)Fear of domination:The less-developed or poor nations in the region have the fear of being dominated by the richer or developing nations.

(vi)Criminal activities: Most of the citizens of the countries that form the organisation indulge in currency trafficking , smuggling, etc, even across the borders of the sub-region.

(vii) Disasters like famine, drought, wars, coups, etc, have led to the problem of refugees in West Africa.

(viii)Hostility within the Sub-region:Some member states accuse others of aiding coups in their countries as well as interfering in their domestic or internal affairs. This kind of hostility may result in the closure of borders.

(ix)Poor Communication network: Roads, telephones, railways, etc, are in poor state and cannot produce the desired results.

(x) Non-Similarity in Currency: Inability of the member states to harmonize their currencies can affect the goal of the organisation. Nothing can be achieved when individual member -state's currency is maintained.

(xi)Similarity of products: As long as most of the goods produced in member states are similar, volume of trade will be affected or reduced drastically.

(xii)Smaller economic groupings: As long as other economic groups exist in the French speaking countries, e.g communate economique L'Quest (C.E.A.Q), etc, along side ECOWAS, loyalty of member states to this sub-regional body will be reduced