In 1979, the Heads of State and Governments of the Member States
of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
established the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) pursuant
to the overarching objective of promoting co-operation and
integration among Member States.
The aim of the ETLS was to establish a free trade area where
enterprises of Member States may move goods within the ECOWAS bloc
without paying duties and levies. However for so long, the
operational effectiveness of the ETLS has been called to
question.
The ETLS is not a myth but an operational tool for duty and
quota free trade within the ECOWAS bloc, regardless of some severe
challenges that still exist. Whilst a big part of the blame for the
uncertainties around the scheme rests with the ECOWAS Commission
and Member States, it is believed that some blame must be placed
squarely on the private sector. In particular, it is noted that
many intending users of the scheme either do not
