The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, in partnership with TradeMark Africa and supported by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is hosting a forum in Accra, Ghana to address quality standards affecting trade along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor.
The three-day event, held from November 18 to 20, 2025, brings together government officials, private sector representatives, and regional institutions from Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, and the East African Community (EAC). The goal is to develop an SPS/TBT Action Roadmap for 2025–2027. This roadmap aims to improve coordination at borders, harmonize standards across the region, and strengthen systems that ensure food safety and prevent the spread of pests and diseases. Participants will also discuss recommendations for implementing annexes of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) related to reducing technical barriers to trade.
Dr Kalilou SYLLA, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture said: “The Abidjan–Lagos Corridor is the heartbeat of West African trade. Strengthening its standards and SPS systems will make our exports safer, faster to move, and more competitive across Africa and beyond.”
He added: “This partnership reflects ECOWAS’s Vision 2050 of a borderless, prosperous region built on trust, standards, and shared prosperity.”
The collaboration between ECOWAS and EAC builds on TradeMark Africa’s experience in trade facilitation in East Africa. Previous initiatives have led to reductions in cargo transit times by over 16% and border crossing times by up to 70% in that region. These approaches are now being adapted for West Africa with the aim of improving food safety as well as the competitiveness of local businesses.
The forum is described as a significant step toward creating a seamless trading environment along one of West Africa’s busiest routes. Organizers say it will support small businesses as well as women traders and youth-led enterprises.
For more information about ECOWAS visit www.ecowas.int. Details about TradeMark Africa can be found at www.trademarkafrica.com.