By Binta Jaiteh
The Gambia Tuesday hosted the inauguration of ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) conference, aimed at examining the institutional, legal, regulatory and economic dimensions of competition policy within the ECOWAS region.
The conference, held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo, brought together public authorities, ministries, government agencies and competition authorities from ECOWAS member states.
Representing President Adama Barrow, Vice President Muhammed B.S. Jallow said the conference reflected a shared conviction that regional integration and competitive markets were fundamental to West Africa’s economic future.
He said the theme, “Competition Policy and Market Integration in ECOWAS: Challenges and Opportunities”, addressed one of the region’s pressing economic priorities.
“As our region accelerates efforts towards seamless trade and economic alignment, establishing a balanced competition framework is essential to address market barriers, overcome cross-border challenges and unlock new opportunities for regional growth,” Jallow remarked.
He said open, fair and competitive markets were essential to achieving sustainable prosperity, noting that effective competition policy protected consumers from unfair pricing, created a stable environment for local businesses and attracted sustainable foreign investment.
The vice president went on to state that competition policy was important both at national and regional levels.
He explained that, domestically, effective competition policy could protect consumers and create a predictable environment for businesses, while at the regional level it could ensure that market integration did not lead to cross-border monopolies or anti-competitive practices.
“By dismantling unfair practices, we safeguard the daily purchasing power of low-income families, women trading in local markets and young entrepreneurs seeking a fair opportunity to thrive,” he said.
Jallow said strong, independent and adequately resourced institutions were essential to achieving these objectives.
“The Gambia places the highest priority on fair market governance. Through the Gambia Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (GCCPC), we continue to build a transparent and predictable business environment,” he said.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. General Birame Diop, commended The Gambia for its commitment to the regional integration agenda.
Diop said the conference was taking place at an important time for ECOWAS, stressing that despite the challenges facing the region, its commitment to deeper economic integration and building a more resilient, dynamic and competitive community remained firm.
He noted that West African economies were undergoing significant transformation driven by digitalization, changing value chains, e-commerce and digital platforms, as well as the need to strengthen the competitiveness of local enterprises.
Diop said regional integration was not simply about removing barriers to trade but also about creating conditions for markets to operate effectively and fairly.
“An integrated market can deliver its full potential only when economic operators are able to compete on equitable terms. We must therefore not only open our markets but ensure that they remain open and competitive. This is where competition policy assumes its strategic importance,” he remarked.
The ECOWAS Commission president highlighted progress made in establishing the foundation of a regional competition regime, including the adoption of the Regional Competition Policy Framework in 2007 and subsequent measures in 2008.
He challenged participants to strengthen enterprises, promote decent employment and deepen West Africa’s participation in regional and global value chains.
Regional economic integration, he continued, remained one of the most important instruments for accelerating economic transformation, industrialization and sustainable development in West Africa.
The conference is expected to review developments in the ECOWAS competition regime and assess progress made by ERCA in strengthening cooperation among national, regional and international competition authorities.