By Kebba AF Touray
ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray has unveiled a bold 25-year master plan featuring 201 regional projects worth over US$131 billion—equivalent to D9.3 trillion. The plan spans transport, energy, telecommunications, and water, and aims to drive deep regional integration.
Speaking at ECOWAS’s 50th Anniversary in Accra on April 22, Dr. Touray said the celebration is not just about reflection, but recalibration. “Some may ask if ECOWAS is worth celebrating. Our answer is a resounding YES,” he declared.
He touted ECOWAS as Africa’s most integrated bloc, with visa-free travel, a trade liberalization scheme benefiting over 15,000 companies, and a regional goods transit system now active in seven countries.
Flagship infrastructure includes the 1,000km Lagos-Abidjan Corridor, ready for investment after US$42 million in technical studies and a projected return of 15%. A second major project—the Abidjan-Praia Corridor—will link Cape Verde to Dakar by sea and road, connecting Banjul, Bissau, Freetown, and Monrovia.
Dr. Touray also highlighted energy breakthroughs: electrification projects in The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Mali, full interconnection among 14 mainland countries, and a US$340 million off-grid access initiative.
He said ECOWAS’s digital integration, mobile roaming framework, and cross-border electricity regulation are transforming the region, adding: “These are real achievements—and real reasons to celebrate.”
Citing peace missions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia, Dr. Touray praised ECOWAS for defending democracy and delivering zero piracy in 2024. But he warned that intra-regional trade remains low at 12% and called for investment to raise productivity and tackle insecurity.
“Our 400 million people are a magnet for investors. Regional unity is not a luxury—it’s a necessity,” he said. “Despite challenges, I am optimistic. We will build on the gains for a stronger, safer, and more integrated West Africa.”
