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The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA), represented by its Executive Director, Dr. Simeon KOFFI, took part in two consecutive ECOWAS statutory meetings on Trade, Industry, Competition and Consumer Protection convened in Accra, Ghana: the Senior Trade Officials (STO) Meeting (8–10 June 2026) and the 5th Meeting of ECOWAS Ministers in Charge of Trade (ECOMOTI 5), held on 11–12 June 2026.
At the STO Meeting, ERCA’s landmark Regulation on Cross-Border Consumer Protection was considered, endorsed, and formally recommended to ECOMOTI 5 for validation. Presented by Dr. Simeon KOFFI, the Regulation was widely commended for its comprehensive framework, which guarantees consumer rights across ECOWAS Member States while clearly defining the responsibilities of enterprises toward consumers. Delegates emphasised that the Regulation responds directly to the realities of increasing digitalisation and the rapid expansion of commercial activities in cyberspace, ensuring that consumers are protected across all channels of commerce, whether physical or digital.
During his presentation The Executive Director of ERCA, Dr. Siméon K. Koffi, highlighted that consumer protection represents the second pillar of ERCA’s mandate. He also underscored the need for stronger regulatory frameworks to address emerging risks that could undermine the full potential of cross-border trade within West Africa
The Regulation received the unwavering support of the Competition Consultative Committee (CCC), represented by its ChairPerson , Dr. Talime ABE, Director General of External Trade of the Togolese Republic, and by Mr. Basiru Njie, Executive Secretary of the Gambian Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. Their endorsement reinforced the collective commitment of Member States to a unified consumer protection agenda. The STO expressed full support for the validation of the Regulation, underscoring its critical importance to ECOWAS’ integration agenda and the strengthening of consumer protection frameworks across the region.
Following this milestone, the Regulation was submitted to the Honourable Ministers during ECOMOTI 5, where it received full support and validation. The Ministers praised the instrument as a timely and welcomed piece of legislation, noting that it provides comprehensive remedies for consumers in cases of harm or loss, strengthens enterprise obligations toward consumers, and enhances investor confidence through predictable protection and enforcement mechanisms. They further underscored that the Regulation will not only guarantee consumer protection but also attract both local and foreign investors, who will be reassured by the existence of harmonised, predictable safeguards across ECOWAS Member States.
The adoption and validation of this Regulation marks a significant achievement for both ERCA and ECOWAS. It establishes a modern, harmonised framework that reinforces consumer trust, promotes fair competition, and positions ECOWAS as a progressive trade bloc aligned with international best practices. ERCA’s leadership, demonstrated through the stewardship of Dr. Simeon KOFFI, has been instrumental in advancing this milestone, strengthening the region’s integration agenda and ensuring resilience in the evolving digital economy.
