ECOWAS

On Friday, April 17th 2009, ECOWAS Ministers of Mines and Industries met in Abuja to adopt the Draft ECOWAS Mining Directive after a two-day meeting of experts from Member States.

The West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), which includes numerous members of the Publish What You Pay coalition put out the following press statement.

What are regional economic communities?

Regional economic communities (RECs) are intergovernmental organizations set up by groups of countries to foster stronger economic ties and cooperation. Well known examples include the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Why does PWYP focus on regional economic communities?

The subject of transparency in the extractive industry has been almost completely absent from the agenda of the RECs.