CEM REPORT | The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has said it has resumed plans to launch the ECOWAS single currency “ECO” in 2027.
ECOWAS, President, Jean-Claude Brou, revealed this to the ECOWAS Parliament, while delivering his report. at the ongoing 2022 First Ordinary Session of the Parliament in Abuja,
He said the process of launching the single ECO currency had to be thorough so that the currency once implemented will serve the citizens effectively adding that the process of launching the single currency was stalled as a result of the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020.
“We had to suspend that in 2022, 2021. We are looking at 2022 to 2026 to be able to create conditions that will enable us to stabilise the economies.
“And so, 2027 we go back to the currency. The process of the performance criteria is always prioritised if we want to be in a very favorable condition to introduce the single currency.
“Because you can introduce the currency but what is required is that it should be of quality.
“In other words, it should serve the needs of the population and also should inspire confidence and trust in the population.
“So that is the main objective, to ensure that the convergence criteria is been followed,”
Rep. Awaji Abiante, Member of the ECOWAS Parliament and Nigerian lawmaker representing Andoni-Opobi/Nkoro Federal Constituency of Rivers, while speaking to journalists said, the single currency is a work in progress and shouldn’t be hurried, adding that the delay in the launch of the currency is to avoid any form of crisis.
“Every good thing comes with its challenges so getting the economies of the 15 member states to agree on that transaction and how it can be moved forward.
“If it is hurried, definitely it could run into crisis so it is good to have every aspect of it discussed, agreement reached, such that it will be implementable,”
However, he said sustainability and benefits of the currency cannot be known until it is implemented.
“Whatever anybody says, it is just going to be mere projections, it is only when it is implemented that you will see the benefits.
“But simply put, it will ease transactions, it will open up the economies, it will make it freer for people to engage in both commercial and industrial activities,”
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that in June 2019, the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of States and Government committed to having a single currency and adopted the name “ECO” during its Extraordinary Session in Abuja.
The currency was expected to be launched in 2020.
