Free Movement in ECOWAS and Beyond

Prof. Joseph Kofi Teye, Director Centre for Migration Studies
Ms. Amanda Bisong, European Centre for Development Policy Management, Maastricht

ABSTRACT

While political narratives and media images on migration tend to focus on its negative impacts, recent scholarship has shown that mobility within Africa presents both opportunities and challenges for sustainable livelihoods and economic empowerment. Recognizing the potential and actual benefits of intra-regional mobility, the regional economic communities in Africa have adopted free movement schemes to facilitate mobility. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) adopted the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Establishment in 1979 (Protocol A/P.1/5/79). This was followed by the formulation of a number of agreements and supplementary protocols aimed at facilitating the mobility of labour and goods within the ECOWAS region. While these instruments provide guidelines for promoting intra-regional mobility and regional integration, there is enough evidence to suggest that the full implementation of the Rights of Residence and Establishment has not been achieved. Although it is acknowledged that evidence-based data is needed for enhancing the implementation of this ECOWAS Protocol, the obstacles to their implementation are quite poorly understood. In this seminar, we examine the achievements and challenges to the implementation of ECOWAS free movement protocols. Relying on the lessons learnt from ECOWAS, we also discuss the potential benefits and challenges of the African Union Free movement protocol, which is largely based on the ECOWAS protocol.  We conclude with policy recommendations for governing mobility within Africa.

Date: Wednesday 17 April, 2019
Venue: University of Ghana, Department of Economics Conference Facility, Seminar Room
Time: 2:00 PM