The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) convened the 11th Meeting of the Competition Consultative Committee (CCC) in Cotonou

Published On - September 30, 2025

Ibrima Tambajang ERCA Blog, Speeches and Press Releases

The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) successfully convened the 11th Meeting of the Competition Consultative Committee (CCC) from 23 to 26 September 2025 in Cotonou, Republic of Benin. The meeting brought together representatives from ECOWAS Member States and ERCA staff.

The four-(4) day session focused on advancing the regional competition agenda through the review and adoption of several strategic documents and initiatives, including:

  • Updates on the activities of the CCC Bureau;
  • Progress in the formulation and enforcement of national competition laws and institutions;
  • Strengthening coordination and cooperation between Member States under the Community Competition Rules (CCRs);
  • Implementation of merger control guidelines and ongoing investigations;
  • Preliminary results of the study on the cement sector in West Africa;
  • Adoption of mechanisms for data collection and transmission;
  • Identification of Member States’ priority needs within the EU-funded PACoSPro Programme (Program to Support Competition and Consumer Product Safety).

In his welcome remarks, Dr. Simeon K. Koffi, Executive Director of ERCA, emphasized the importance of promoting a “genuine culture of competition” in the region and urged Member States to deepen collaboration to overcome challenges such as anti-competitive practices and institutional disparities.

The Chairperson of the CCC, Dr. Talime Abe, reiterated the importance of competition as a driver of economic performance and consumer protection, while recalling key achievements of the previous meeting, including the Cooperation Agreement between ERCA and the member States.

The ECOWAS Resident Representative in Benin, H.E. Amadou Diongue, underlined the strategic importance of the PACoSPro programme in strengthening national and regional competition frameworks.

Representing the Government of Benin, Ms. Emile Tiboute-Sama, Deputy Director of Cabinet at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, highlighted recent reforms, including the adoption of a new competition law and the creation of a National Competition Authority.

The meeting concluded with the adoption of some recommendations, including:

  • Reinforced cooperation among Member States and ERCA in the enforcement of competition rules;
  • Support for national reforms aligning with ECOWAS and UEMOA frameworks;
  • Commitment to pursue sectoral studies, particularly in the cement market;
  • Acceleration of activities under the PACoSPro programme to enhance capacity building, consumer protection, and regional integration.

In closing, the Chairperson of the CCC and the Executive Director of ERCA commended Member States for their active participation and urged them to redouble efforts in promoting competition and consumer protection as pillars of economic integration. The Government of Benin, through the Deputy Director of Cabinet reaffirmed its full commitment to the effective implementation of Community Competition Rules.