West African leaders agree to reopen land borders in January 2022
The leadership of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has agreed to the reopening of all land borders in the region by January 1, 2022, without further delay.
Penpushing reports that, the agreement was made known in a communiqué issued at the end of the 60th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the West African Countries held on Sunday in Abuja.
The reopening of the borders was recommended by the leaders of the West African Countries based on the economic effect the closure has had on the economy of the region, and they also welcomed the reopening of already opened borders.
Penpushing further reports that, the leadership noted at the meeting that in addition to the closure of borders on account of the coronavirus pandemic, the member states facing security crisis had also tightened security checkpoints within and at the borders of their respective countries.
The record and official estimate has it that, this resulted in a loss of 6.7 per cent of the GDP of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) States between 2020 and 2021, while this corresponds to about $50 billion.
Penpushing also reports that the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS) Commissioner for Trade, Customs and Free Movement, Tei Konzi, said the reopening of borders for economic recovery has now become a fundamental issue as the outbreak of coronavirus in 2020 in West Africa adversely impacted the volume of trade and mobility of persons.”
The West African leaders urged member states to implement the adopted Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) guidelines on harmonisation and facilitation of cross border trade and transport and mitigation of health sin the region as it relates to coronavirus.
Penpushing reports that, the leadership also urged members to enhance the coordination, collaboration and cooperation through border agencies among member states sharing contiguous borders.”
The leaders called on member states to “Adopt mutual recognition of PCR test at borders; harmonise the validity period of test results in member states and provide equipment and facilities at all points of entry.”
Penpushing further reports that, in related development the meeting welcomed the upcoming Ministerial meeting of concerned member states led by the President of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Kabore, on the obstacles affecting intra-community trade on the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor.
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