ECOWAS Parliament Urges Faster AU Free Movement Protocol Ratification

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has been urged to accelerate the ratification of the African Union (AU) Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons. This push comes amidst concerns that continued delays could undermine Africa's wider economic integration goals.

On May 5, Third Deputy Speaker Osahene Alex Afenyo-Markin stated the slow progress represents a major setback for the continent's economic ambitions. He made this statement during a session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja. Specifically, he highlighted the negative impact on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

This situation fits into Ghana's broader economic story as a key player in continental trade. Ghana hosts the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra. However, Ghana itself has yet to ratify the AU Free Movement Protocol. The country has set a target of 2027 for its ratification.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin delivered a statement of urgent public interest. He warned that Africa risks failing to fully realise AfCFTA's benefits without free movement of people. He stated: “We cannot build a true African Continental Free Trade Area if people cannot move with their goods.”

The AU Free Movement Protocol was adopted in January 2018. It aimed to complement AfCFTA by allowing Africans to travel, live, and set up businesses across the continent. Eight years later, only four countries have ratified it: Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Niger, and Mali. This is significantly below the 15 ratifications needed for it to take effect.

ECOWAS is often seen as a leader in regional mobility. It has a 1979 visa-free travel protocol. Yet, none of its current member states have ratified the AU protocol. This remains true even after Niger and Mali exited the bloc.

Despite ECOWAS's progress in enabling cross-border movement, challenges persist. These include harassment, extortion, and illegal checkpoints. Such issues undermine regional integration efforts, as noted by Mr. Afenyo-Markin.

He also pointed out a structural gap in Africa's integration framework. While 49 countries have ratified AfCFTA, restrictions on people's movement continue to hinder trade. They also impact investment and labour mobility across the continent.

The Deputy Speaker called on ECOWAS member states to complete their domestic ratification processes quickly. He urged them to deposit the necessary instruments with the African Union. A resolution is being proposed within the ECOWAS Parliament. It aims to identify non-ratifying countries, demand faster legislative action, and require regular progress reports.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin emphasised that Ghana's leadership in promoting integration needs matching legal commitments. He cautioned that Africa's integration challenge is now about implementation, not policy design. Failure to establish free movement could undo decades of progress.

For ECOWAS and the entire continent, a truly integrated market depends on more than just the movement of goods. It also requires the freedom for people to move, work, and trade across borders.