ECOWAS LAUNCHES REGIONAL FORTNIGHT IN LOMÉ TO STRENGTHEN LEADERSHIP AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN CROSS-BORDER TRADERS
"The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) officially launched, on Thursday, 18 June 2026 in Lomé, the Regional Fortnight on Small-Scale Cross-Border Trade by Women in the ECOWAS Region, under the theme: “Women Cross-Border Traders: Driving Regional Integration for 50 Years.” The official ceremony was presided over by H.E. Badanam Patoki, […]"
The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) officially launched, on Thursday, 18 June 2026 in Lomé, the Regional Fortnight on Small-Scale Cross-Border Trade by Women in the ECOWAS Region, under the theme: “Women Cross-Border Traders: Driving Regional Integration for 50 Years.”
The official ceremony was presided over by H.E. Badanam Patoki, Minister of Economy and Strategic Planning, who launched this regional initiative on behalf of the Togolese government, in the presence of representatives of the Togolese government, H.E. Deweh Emily Gray, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Togo, H.E. Zelma Fassinou, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Senegal, Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Professor Félix Nzué Fofana, Acting Director of Research and Statistics representing the ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Dr. Kalilou Sylla, Ms. Sandra Oulaté FATTOH, Director of the ECOWAS Center for Gender Development, as well as representatives of member states, technical and financial partners, the private sector, organizations of cross-border women traders, and numerous guests.
Organized from 18 to 28 June 2026 as part of the celebrations marking the 50th Anniversary of ECOWAS, this Fortnight reflects the Commission’s commitment to strengthening the role of women in the regional integration process by highlighting their vital contribution to intra-community trade, economic growth, and social cohesion among the peoples of West Africa.
Women account for between 70 and 80 percent of cross-border traders along several corridors in the region. Despite their significant contribution to regional economic dynamism, they continue to face numerous challenges, including border harassment, gender-based violence, limited access to finance, complex administrative procedures, and inadequate infrastructure.
Through this Regional Fortnight, the ECOWAS Commission aims to build on the achievements of awareness campaigns conducted between 2023 and 2025 along the Tema–Ouagadougou, Dakar–Banjul–Bissau, and Abidjan–Lagos corridors, with a view to transforming lessons learned into concrete actions that will sustainably improve the conditions under which women engage in small-scale cross-border trade.
In his remarks read by Prof. Félix Nzué Fofana, Dr. Kalilou Sylla stated: “Having gathered concerns and identified the challenges faced by women traders through our regional campaigns, the time has now come to propose concrete, coordinated, and sustainable solutions. Women are the driving force behind regional trade and must fully benefit from the opportunities offered by ECOWAS economic integration.” — Dr. Kalilou Sylla, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture (represented)
The Commissioner also emphasized the need to strengthen synergies among the Commission’s Directorates and Specialized Agencies, particularly within the framework of the “Water-Energy-Food and Gender Nexus” initiative, in order to implement transformative projects benefiting women and youth.
For her part, Professor Fatou Sow Sarr recalled that: “This Fortnight is first and foremost a platform for listening, dialogue, and action. Our ambition is to bring ECOWAS closer to the people, transform regional commitments into tangible results, and make borders spaces of prosperity, security, and opportunity for women traders.” — Professor Fatou Sow Sarr, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs
She reaffirmed that the ECOWAS Vision 2050 cannot be achieved without the full participation of women who, every day, contribute to market operations, food security, and closer ties among the peoples of the region.
Over the course of more than two weeks, the Fortnight brings together representatives from the twelve (12) ECOWAS Member States, Directorates and Specialized Agencies of the Commission, ministries responsible for Trade, Gender, Transport, Agriculture, Finance and Security, customs and border administrations, chambers of commerce, women cross-border traders’ organizations, financial institutions, private sector organizations, research institutes, and technical and financial partners.
This diversity of stakeholders reflects a shared commitment to developing a coordinated approach to removing barriers to cross-border trade and promoting women’s economic empowerment throughout West Africa.
This activity-rich Fortnight will begin with a regional mini-caravan at the Hilacondji (Togo–Benin) and Aflao (Togo–Ghana) border posts to raise awareness among women traders and border officials about ECOWAS trade facilitation instruments.
A regional trade fair showcasing products from agricultural, fisheries, and artisanal value chains developed by women across Member States is also planned. In addition, a week-long capacity-building programme focusing on ECOWAS trade facilitation instruments, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), financial inclusion, trade digitalization, and the validation of the new ECOWAS Gender and Trade Strategy 2026–2030 and its Action Plan is included in the agenda of the Fortnight.
During these ten days of activities, dialogue and exchange sessions will be held between women traders, border administrations, financial institutions, chambers of commerce, and development partners. The programme will culminate in the launch of the ECOWAS Women Cross-Border Traders Network, aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, experience sharing, and women’s representation in trade policy processes.
Through this initiative, the ECOWAS Commission reaffirms its commitment to promoting a more inclusive, safer, and more competitive cross-border trade environment while strengthening women’s economic leadership, in line with the ECOWAS Vision 2050: “An ECOWAS of the People: Peace and Prosperity for All.”
Deep Analysis
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Key Impact
- This Regional Fortnight directly addresses the challenges faced by the 70-80% of cross-border traders in West Africa who are women, aiming to transform their working conditions from Lomé to Ghana's borders.
- The initiative builds on previous awareness campaigns along the Tema–Ouagadougou corridor, which directly affects Ghanaian women traders who move goods like yams, tomatoes, and textiles between Ghana and Burkina Faso.
- By proposing concrete solutions, the Fortnight seeks to convert regional trade commitments into tangible benefits for women, potentially increasing their incomes and reducing harassment at borders like Aflao and Paga.
- The event marks a shift from listening to action, with a goal to make borders 'spaces of prosperity' for women traders, which could boost local economies in Ghana's northern and border regions.
Background
- ECOWAS launched this Fortnight in Lomé, Togo, on 18 June 2026 as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the regional bloc, highlighting women's role in driving integration over five decades.
- Women make up 70-80% of small-scale cross-border traders in West Africa, yet they face persistent problems such as border harassment, violence, limited finance, and poor infrastructure along key corridors.
- The initiative follows awareness campaigns (2023-2025) on the Tema–Ouagadougou, Dakar–Banjul–Bissau, and Abidjan–Lagos corridors, which identified specific challenges for women traders operating between Ghana and its neighbors.
- ECOWAS Commissioner Dr. Kalilou Sylla emphasized that after gathering concerns from women traders through these campaigns, the time has come to propose coordinated, sustainable solutions rather than just documenting problems.
Benefits
- Women cross-border traders in Ghana, especially those using the Tema–Ouagadougou corridor, could gain reduced harassment at borders like Aflao, Paga, and Elubo through coordinated customs reforms and better security measures.
- The Fortnight's focus on the 'Water-Energy-Food and Gender Nexus' could lead to projects that provide women traders with access to clean water for washing produce and reliable energy for cold storage, reducing post-harvest losses.
- Improved access to finance and simplified administrative procedures may enable Ghanaian women to expand their businesses, trading more agricultural goods like maize, shea butter, and vegetables across borders.
- By strengthening regional integration, this initiative can enhance food security in Ghana by ensuring smoother flow of staple foods from surplus areas in the north to markets in the south and neighboring countries.
Risks & Warnings
- Without strong enforcement mechanisms, the Fortnight's pledges could remain symbolic, and women traders in Ghana may continue to face the same harassment and bureaucratic delays at key border posts like Aflao.
- There is a risk that benefits may not reach the most vulnerable women, such as those trading perishable goods like fresh fish or vegetables, if infrastructure improvements and financial services are not targeted properly.
- Regional coordination challenges within ECOWAS could delay implementation, leaving Ghanaian women traders waiting longer for promised reforms while still bearing the costs of complex customs procedures.
- If the security situation in the Sahel deteriorates, corridors like Tema–Ouagadougou could become riskier, undermining the Fortnight's goals of making borders safe and prosperous for women traders.
Who Is Affected
- Ghanaian women small-scale cross-border traders, who constitute a majority of traders moving goods like foodstuffs, textiles, and household items between Ghana and Burkina Faso, Togo, and Côte d'Ivoire, are the primary beneficiaries.
- Customs and border administration officials in Ghana, particularly at the Aflao, Paga, and Elubo border posts, will be affected as they may need to adopt new procedures reducing harassment and simplifying documentation.
- Ministries and agencies in Ghana responsible for Trade, Gender, Transport, Agriculture, Finance, and Security are directly involved in translating the Fortnight's outcomes into national policies and actions.
- Agricultural value chain actors in Ghana, including farmers of maize, yams, and tomatoes who supply women traders, as well as transporters and market sellers in cities like Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale, will feel the impacts of smoother cross-border trade.
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