The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has reported significant economic, social and institutional achievements in 2025, despite global economic headwinds and persistent security challenges across the sub-region.
Speaking on Thursday at a meeting with development partners, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, said the regional economy expanded by 4.6 per cent in 2025, up from 4.3 per cent in 2024, with growth projected to reach 5.0 per cent in 2026.
Touray attributed the improved performance to the implementation of structural reforms, stronger fiscal discipline, and targeted interventions to boost key sectors, including extractive industries and trade. He also disclosed that regional inflation declined sharply from 24.4 per cent in 2024 to 16.8 per cent in 2025, supported by coordinated monetary and fiscal policies among member states.
According to him, public finance management improved across the region, with the budget deficit narrowing to 3.1 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2025, while the debt-to-GDP ratio declined slightly to 45.7 per cent. He added that current account balances remained positive, driven largely by export surpluses recorded by Nigeria, Ghana and Guinea.
On peace and security, Touray said ECOWAS strengthened its peacekeeping operations and preventive diplomacy mechanisms. He disclosed that assessment missions were conducted in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau to evaluate operational and financial implications, leading to recommendations on enhanced training, monitoring and exit strategies.
He noted that counter-terrorism efforts were intensified in response to rising fatalities from attacks, with expanded regional intelligence sharing, specialised training programmes and advances in arms control, including the donation of weapons-marking machines to four member states.
Touray also said the Commission made steady progress in advancing regional economic integration through the consolidation of the free trade area, customs union and common market initiatives. Measures to ease cross-border trade included targeted support for women and youth entrepreneurs, the rollout of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card in six countries, and the deployment of digital platforms to monitor trade compliance.
He added that ECOWAS participated in major trade and investment engagements, including the Intra-African Trade Fair in Algeria and the maiden ECOWAS Trade and Investment Forum held in Lagos.
In the infrastructure sector, Touray reported significant advances in energy, transport and digital connectivity. He said clean energy programmes led to the certification of solar technicians, while broadband initiatives prepared the deployment of a second submarine cable. Progress was also recorded in regional road standards, aviation safety capacity and the establishment of internet interconnection hubs.
He said ECOWAS further strengthened agricultural governance, climate-smart farming practices and food security programmes, reaching millions of beneficiaries through improved farming technologies, school feeding schemes and livestock development projects. Partnerships on climate resilience, carbon markets and sustainable resource management were also expanded.
Through the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO), Touray said the regional body enhanced epidemic preparedness and laboratory capacity, while humanitarian interventions focused on vulnerable groups, including women treated for obstetric fistula. He added that youth employability, gender equality, women’s empowerment and anti-human trafficking programmes were implemented across several member states.
On institutional development, Touray said the Commission improved internal governance, financial management and staff capacity through training in strategic leadership and risk management. He disclosed that the ECOWAS Court of Justice held 79 sessions in 2025 and expanded public outreach to improve citizens’ access to justice.
He further noted that strengthened partnerships with international organisations, including the United Nations, European Union, World Bank, International Monetary Fund and African Development Bank, secured support for regional projects in transport, agriculture, energy and digital transformation.
Touray said the 2025 achievements position ECOWAS to deepen regional integration, promote economic growth and enhance stability, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, security threats and the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the Community.
