Institutional capacity and regional integration: reflections on the composition and powers of the ECOWAS parliament

Abstract

One of the challenges facing the African continent in the twenty first century is how to strengthen the capacity of domestic economies for effective and meaningful participation in the increasingly competitive global economy. The challenge is compounded by systematic relegation of African countries to the backwaters of global trade and investment and uninspiring efforts of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in multilateral trade negotiations. In grappling with this challenge, promotion of regional trade and economic integration has been identified as one key element. Highlighting the essence of regional integration in Africa, Ake (1981) noted that African formations need to cooperate to be strong enough to deal with the powerful multinational companies operating in Africa; overcome the constraints placed on industrialization and development by the small size of the internal markets; mobilize more capital for large-scale development; and exert better terms from their economic relations with international organizations, development agencies and other regional organizations.