ECOWAS Vision 2050 will deliver greater prosperity – Dr Apraku
The Commissioner of Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research for ECOWAS, Dr Kofi Konado Apraku, has said the initiative would deliver superior prosperity for its people.
Speaking at a meeting with experts to validate the draft ECOWAS Vision 2050, he said the subregional policy guide would “serve the interest of all our member states and the people within the ECOWAS region.”
He underscored that the meeting was to afford the experts the time to strengthen the quality and relevance of the draft vision document, having completed the first four phases of the road map.
He added that this would take them a step closer to its adoption as well as for implementation by the ECOWAS Commission “to ensure that we deliver greater prosperity for our people.
The vision document builds on the gains made in the implementation of Vision 2020 and improves on the challenges and gaps identified during its implementation.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, said the vision 2050 was a critical milestone in the ECOWAS’ journey towards realising “an integrated, peaceful and prosperous West Africa.”
He explained that with the expiration of the vision 2020 last year, which sought to transform the community from an “ECOWAS of States to an ECOWAS of People”, it was important for the region to be provided with a new and a medium-term strategic plan.
Let’s do more for our people
The finance minister said that Vision 2020 had produced remarkable results in peace, security, democracy and good governance, intra-regional trade and investments, free movements of people, goods and capital; and infrastructure development (transport, energy and ICT).
He underscored that such achievements had earned the ECOWAS a prestigious place amongst the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in Africa, saying: “ECOWAS is no doubt the model REC in Africa”.
He, however, noted, “Despite these achievements, so much still remains to be done in order to raise the living standards of our people and contribute to the progress and development of the African continent as enshrined in the revised ECOWAS Treaty.”
The ECOWAS vision 2050
The 30-year development plan, Vision 2050, is to consolidate the gains made in the implementation of programmes and projects identified under the receding ECOWAS Vision 2020.
Therefore, the commission is collaborating with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) to prepare and analyse development programmes for Regional Economic Communities (RECs).
The two organisations are building on their existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), consistent with the agreement signed in July 2019.
Per the agreement, UNECA would, amongst others, provide technical assistance in the evaluation of ECOWAS Vision 2020 and the development of Vision 2050.
The ECA will also provide capacity building in strategic planning and support the development of a monitoring and evaluation handbook.
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