Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) say there is a positive outlook of regional growth achieved during the first half of this year and urged member states to sustain their efforts of diversification, particularly by strengthening economic, budgetary and financial reforms.
They should also take ownership of the reforms and ensure effective implementation of the regional programmes, with a view to consolidating the achievements.
In a communique issued in Accra on Thursday at the end of their one-day summit, the Heads of State and Government welcomed the actions implemented in line with the different roadmaps adopted, particularly by ensuring that the ECOWAS-Common External Tariff (CET) comes into force and Monetary Union attained by 2020.
The summit approved the abolition of the residence permit and the introduction of the Biometric Identity Card for the Community citizens and asked the Ministers in charge of Security to review all the security implications.
On the ECOWAS single currency, the Summit endorsed the recommendations on the convergence criteria, the streamlining of the institutions and the revised roadmap with a specific indication of the institutions in charge of its implementation.
