West African subregional body, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reiterated its commitment to fostering the free movement of persons to boost regional integration and socio-economic development in the subregion.
Albert Siaw-Boateng, the Director of Free Movement of Persons and Migration at the ECOWAS Commission, made this commitment at a meeting for Needs Assessment and Project Identification for Cross-Border Women in Development Networks (WID), which ended in the Ghanaian capital last Friday.
“The ECOWAS Commission and the Directorate of Free Movement of Persons and Migration remain committed to fostering regional integration and socioeconomic development within the subregion. Initiatives like the WID Networks in border communities play a vital role in advancing these objectives”, Siaw-Bateng stated.
The director emphasized the importance of assessing the needs of women in development and exploring possible areas of intervention.
He further announced that ECOWAS had put in place a financial grant specifically dedicated to the WID Networks, which member states could access to enhance women’s capabilities and provide support for small and medium-scale enterprises.
Siaw-Boateng pledged that the ECOWAS Commission and the Directorate of Free Movement of Persons and Migration would continue to use initiatives such as the WID networks to achieve the goal of fostering subregional integration and socioeconomic development.
Cross-border movement economic activities among ECOWAS member countries have been largely informal, with numerous barriers impeding free movements of persons, goods, and services.
The subregional body has been working with the International Organization on Migration to remove the barriers to free movement.