AYV News, March 27, 2026
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Trade and Industry and Chair of ECOWAS Ministers of Trade, Alpha Ibrahim Sesay, has called for stronger unity and coordinated engagement among West African states ahead of the Fourteenth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (MC14).
Speaking at the ECOWAS Ministers of Trade Coordinating Meeting convened by the ECOWAS Commission, Sesay emphasised the need for a unified regional position across key negotiating areas, stressing that development must remain at the heart of the global trading system.
He urged ECOWAS Member States to speak with “one voice,” representing the interests of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), developing nations, and vulnerable economies. According to him, such unity is critical to strengthening Africa’s influence within global trade negotiations and ensuring outcomes reflect the region’s economic realities.
“Our positions are anchored in shared frameworks that prioritize inclusive growth, structural transformation, and sustainable development,” he stated, referencing regional and continental development agendas guiding ECOWAS engagements.
The Minister highlighted priority areas requiring a coordinated stance, including WTO reform, dispute settlement mechanisms, agriculture and food security, fisheries subsidies, and special and differential treatment for developing economies. He also underscored the importance of addressing issues related to digital trade and the ongoing e-commerce moratorium.
At a separate meeting of LDC Trade Ministers, Sesayreaffirmed ECOWAS’ alignment with LDC priorities, calling for tangible outcomes that support development. He identified the LDC package as a minimum expectation from the conference and advocated for balanced frameworks on LDC graduation, improved market access, and the fulfillment of commitments on services and rules of origin.
He further stressed the need for enhanced technology transfer, increased financing support under global trade frameworks, and accelerated progress in agriculture and fisheries negotiations—sectors vital to West Africa’s economies.
Ministers and representatives from across the region, including countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, and The Gambia, echoed the call for unity, while commending the ECOWAS Commission for its role in coordinating regional positions ahead of the high-level conference.
Sesay concluded by reaffirming ECOWAS’ commitment to constructive engagement and principled negotiation within both the African and LDC blocs, noting that the success of the conference would ultimately depend on delivering concrete outcomes that advance inclusivity and sustainable development.
Observers say the renewed push for regional cohesion positions ECOWAS as a strategic and influential bloc in ongoing global trade discussions, particularly at a time when the multilateral trading system faces increasing pressure to respond to the needs of developing economies.
