Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Primary 6 Civic Education

Topic: Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Introduction

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional organization established to foster economic integration, trade cooperation, and unity among West African countries.

Key Information About ECOWAS

• Founded: May 28, 1975
• Location of Founding: Lagos, Nigeria
• Headquarters: Abuja, Nigeria

Member Countries of ECOWAS

ECOWAS comprises 15 West African countries, each committed to promoting regional cooperation.

List of Member States:

1. Benin 🇧🇯
2. Burkina Faso 🇧🇫
3. Cabo Verde
4. Côte d’Ivoire 🇨🇮
5. The Gambia 🇬🇲
6. Ghana 🇬🇭
7. Guinea 🇬🇳
8. Guinea-Bissau 🇬🇼
9. Liberia 🇱🇷
10. Mali 🇲🇱
11. Niger 🇳🇪
12. Nigeria 🇳🇬
13. Senegal 🇸🇳
14. Sierra Leone 🇸🇱
15. Togo 🇹🇬

To see more details about each country, visit ECOWAS Official Member States.

Objectives of ECOWAS

The main goals of ECOWAS are centered on improving economic growth and cooperation among member countries.

Key Objectives:

1. Promote Inter-Trade: Encourage trade among member countries to boost regional economies.
   • Example: Nigeria exports goods like oil to Ghana, while Ghana exports cocoa to Nigeria.
2. Free Movement of Goods, Services, and Persons: Allow citizens, goods, and services to move freely across borders without restrictions.
   • Example: A businessperson from Senegal can trade in Côte d’Ivoire without requiring extra permits.
3. Ease Mobility of Labour: Facilitate the movement of workers between member states to increase employment opportunities.
   • Example: Teachers from Ghana can work in Togo without work permits.
4. Eliminate Trade Barriers: Remove tariffs and quotas that restrict free trade among member states.
5. Promote International Friendship: Strengthen bonds of unity and cooperation among West African countries.

For additional insights, explore this resource: ECOWAS Objectives.

Importance of ECOWAS

1. Economic Growth: Through trade, economies of member states become stronger.
2. Cultural Exchange: Citizens learn more about one another’s traditions and practices.
3. Regional Stability: Encourages peace and security within the region.

Evaluation Questions

1. What is the full meaning of ECOWAS?
2. How many countries are members of the ECOWAS Community?
3. Mention two objectives of ECOWAS.
4. Where is the headquarters of ECOWAS located?
5. State two benefits of ECOWAS for member states.

Interactive Activity

Class Discussion:

• Identify and discuss how ECOWAS has impacted your country.
• Role-play as ECOWAS leaders and propose solutions to strengthen inter-trade among member states.

Practical Exercise:

• Use a map of West Africa to locate all ECOWAS member states.

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions with Options (a, b, c, or d)

1. ECOWAS was founded on ______.
   a) May 28, 1975
   b) May 29, 1975
   c) May 18, 1975
   d) May 20, 1975
2. The headquarters of ECOWAS is located in ______.
   a) Lagos
   b) Accra
   c) Abuja
   d) Dakar
3. The full meaning of ECOWAS is ______.
   a) Economic Corporation of West African States
   b) Economic Community of West African States
   c) Economic Committee for West African States
   d) Economic Commission of West African States
4. How many member countries are in ECOWAS?
   a) 10
   b) 12
   c) 15
   d) 18
5. One of the main objectives of ECOWAS is to promote ______ among member countries.
   a) Inter-trade
   b) Conflict
   c) Religious differences
   d) Isolation
6. ______ is not a member of ECOWAS.
   a) Nigeria
   b) Ghana
   c) Kenya
   d) Togo
7. The official language spoken in most ECOWAS countries is ______.
   a) Spanish
   b) English
   c) Portuguese
   d) French
8. Free movement of goods and services within the ECOWAS sub-region is called ______.
   a) Trade barrier
   b) Free trade
   c) Regional restriction
   d) Economic hindrance
9. ECOWAS was established to improve ______.
   a) Regional economic cooperation
   b) Political independence
   c) Religious practices
   d) Education standards
10. The ECOWAS member country known for its cocoa export is ______.
    a) Nigeria
    b) Ghana
    c) Benin
    d) Guinea
11. ECOWAS aims to eliminate ______ among member countries.
    a) Trade barriers
    b) Cultural similarities
    c) Free movement
    d) Employment
12. Which country in ECOWAS has the largest population?
    a) Ghana
    b) Côte d’Ivoire
    c) Nigeria
    d) Senegal
13. ______ is a Portuguese-speaking ECOWAS member.
    a) Cabo Verde
    b) Togo
    c) Liberia
    d) Mali
14. The country known as the “Lion Mountain” in ECOWAS is ______.
    a) Liberia
    b) Sierra Leone
    c) Guinea
    d) Benin
15. ECOWAS promotes ______ to enhance relationships among member countries.
    a) International friendship
    b) Political rivalry
    c) Economic restrictions
    d) Regional instability

15 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) with Answers

1. What does ECOWAS stand for?
   ECOWAS stands for the Economic Community of West African States.
2. When was ECOWAS founded?
   ECOWAS was founded on May 28, 1975.
3. Where is the headquarters of ECOWAS located?
   The headquarters of ECOWAS is in Abuja, Nigeria.
4. How many member countries belong to ECOWAS?
   ECOWAS has 15 member countries.
5. What are the main objectives of ECOWAS?
   The main objectives are to promote inter-trade, eliminate trade barriers, and encourage free movement of goods, services, and persons.
6. Which languages are commonly spoken in ECOWAS countries?
   English, French, and Portuguese are commonly spoken languages in ECOWAS.
7. Which ECOWAS country has the largest economy?
   Nigeria has the largest economy in ECOWAS.
8. What is the purpose of free trade in ECOWAS?
   Free trade aims to enhance economic cooperation and eliminate tariffs among member states.
9. Which ECOWAS country is famous for cocoa production?
   Ghana is famous for cocoa production.
10. What is the significance of free movement within ECOWAS?
    It allows individuals, goods, and services to move freely without restrictions.
11. Which ECOWAS country is an island nation?
    Cabo Verde is the only island nation in ECOWAS.
12. Why is regional cooperation important in ECOWAS?
    It fosters unity, economic growth, and peace among member countries.
13. Which country in ECOWAS has the smallest land area?
    The Gambia has the smallest land area in ECOWAS.
14. What type of goods are traded within ECOWAS?
    Goods such as oil, cocoa, textiles, and food products are traded within ECOWAS.
15. How does ECOWAS promote peace in the region?
    ECOWAS resolves conflicts and encourages peaceful negotiations among member countries.

10 Evaluation Questions

1. What is the primary purpose of ECOWAS?
2. Name three countries that are members of ECOWAS.
3. Where is the headquarters of ECOWAS located?
4. State two objectives of ECOWAS.
5. When was ECOWAS established?
6. Which country in ECOWAS is known for its large oil production?
7. What is the importance of free movement within ECOWAS?
8. Mention the only Portuguese-speaking country in ECOWAS.
9. What is one advantage of eliminating trade barriers in ECOWAS?
10. Why is international friendship important among ECOWAS members?