By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Technical Experts from the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority, ERVA, have recently met in Dakar, Republic of Senegal to review and amend the Draft ECOWAS Directive on Consumer Protection Draft to meet best global practices.
The meeting which held from 26th February to 3rd March 2023 converged six technical Working Groups from the ERCA Consultative Competition Committee (CCC) and ERCA staff.
The Executive Director of ERCA, Dr. Simeon Koffi stated that the purpose of the meeting was to review the draft Directive on Consumer Protection in line with the recommendations of the ECOWAS Ministers in charge of Trade and Industry (ECOMOTI) at a meeting held in Abidjan ,November 2022.
Chairperson of the CCC, Ms..Bolanle Boladale Adeyinka thanked the ERCA for organizing the meeting and emphasized the need to amend the document around the orientation of the Ministers of Trade and Industry.
Adeyinka called for flexible institutional framework to enable member States to adopt the appropriate mechanisms for consumer protection in line with the goals and objectives set up at the regional level and also with best practices.
She urged CCC members to open the information chain between trade experts and Ministers of Trade and Industry to facilitate the validation of the draft Directive.
The Directive is the first step in developing a holistic framework for consumer protection in the region.
This instrument will help ERCA in promoting and enforcing the regional framework on consumer protection and will contribute to enhancing the welfare of consumers within the ECOWAS region, Adeyinka explained.
