Swearing-in of the members of the Council of the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA)

Ten members of the 1st Council of the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) were sworn in on   Wednesday, October 01, 2024, in Banjul, during a ceremony presided over by the Vice-President of the Community Court of Justice, the Honorable Judge Gbéri-Bè OUATTARA, in the presence of the President of the Commission, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu TOURAY.

 The establishment of the ERCA Council and the swearing- in of the Members is an important milestone as it completes the formation of the statutory organs necessary for the full operationalization of the activities of the Agency in the regional market.

The formal ceremony, which took place in the presence of the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, H.E. Omar Alieu TOURAY, saw the  the Honorable Judge Gbéri-Bè OUATTARA acknowledge the oath of Office of the Members, congratulate  them  and gave advice  on the  preservation of the honour and trust bestowed on each and everyone of them.

Madam Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, expressed her gratitude to the Gambian authorities, not only for hosting the inaugural ceremony, but also for agreeing to host the ERCA headquarters since July 2018. This action, she added, denotes the willingness and commitment of the Gambian government to promote the development of a competitive environment and inter-regional trade that would benefit the entire community.

Delivering the statement on behalf of the Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Mr. Baboucar O. JOOF, Honourable Nani JUWARA, Minister of Petroleum and Energy, welcomed the members of the Council and all other participants who travelled to Banjul for the inauguration and swearing-in of members of ERCA Council. Mr. JUWARA described the event as a significant milestone in their collective efforts in advancing economic integration of the ECOWAS region, particularly the desire to promote fair and equitable competition in the community’s market. He welcomed the appointment of the members of the ERCA Council and encouraged them to engage in their actions and have fruitful deliberations in order to make decisions to advance our common objectives.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, His Excellency Dr. Omar Alieu TOURAY, expressed his satisfaction with the results achieved by ECOWAS, particularly the consolidation of the institutional framework for competition in our region. He expressed his satisfaction with the quality of the members of the Council and pointed out that the Governments and people of ECOWAS region count on their commitment, conscience and probity to serve the Community.

He pointed out that the establishment of the Council, ARCC’s decision-making body, complements the instruments designed to contribute to healthy and fair competition on the West African market and beyond for the promotion of intra-regional trade and regional integration. He assured the Council of the support of the management of the ECOWAS Commission in the discharge of their duties and in carrying out the programs and activities of the Council.

Mr. TOURAY took the opportunity to renew the gratitude of the ECOWAS Commission to the high authorities of the Community for their leadership and unfailing support in the implementation of the various regional integration projects.

On the sidelines of the swearing-in of the ERCA Council Members, the President of the Commission, accompanied by Mrs Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, Commissioner in charge of Economic Affairs and Agriculture, and the members of the Council, paid a visit to the headquarters of the ERCA .

The Executive Director made a brief presentation on the environment and working conditions at ERCA, discussed the achievements since the arrival of the first staff members in June 2019 and brought to the attention of the President of the Commission the challenges facing the Authority. This visit was an opportunity to present ERCA staff members to the President of the Commission, while drawing his attention to the challenges, in particular the need to provide the Authority with adequate human and financial resources to carry out its mandates, especially at a crucial moment when its Council is being established.

The President of the Commission recognized the challenges faced by ERCA and which he described as challenges general to all ECOWAS institutions. However, he assured with the support of the ECOWAS decision-making bodies, priority would be given to the Authority as soon as conditions permit.