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DEVELOPMENT OF PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURES FOR ROADS, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND ENERGY
As part of efforts towards the physical integration of the sub-region, ECOWAS has embarked on programmes to interconnect existing networks in the areas of transport, communications and energy. These are projects capable of promoting integration and constitute the major links in the development of the Community’s territory. The importance of efficient infrastructure linking Member States cannot be over-emphasised in the light of our goal of integrating the economies of West Africa. Accurately measuring production overheads, and the quality of transport, communications and energy services is a crucial element in improving economic competitiveness and strengthening regional integration. In particular, for export promotion and intra-regional trade, the improvement of road and telecommunications networks, and provision of energy at affordable cost should be treated as key priority areas as we strive to carve a place for ECOWAS countries within the world economy. Essentially, our efforts will focus on elaborating and executing regional infrastructural programmes to connect member countries, with each country bearing the cost while benefitting from revenue generated through such interconnection. The involvement of the private sector should be actively sought in this regard. .Transport Sector The ECOWAS priority road transport programme was conceived as part of attempts to promote regional economic integration and trade between Member States. The programme is divided into two phases. The first phase of the programme is outlined in Decision A/DEC.20/80 relating to the Community transport programme. It consists of the following two components: a) facilitation of road transport across national borders; and b) construction of the trans-West African highway network hich includes the trans-costal highway linking Lagos to Nouakchott and the trans-Sahelian highway linking Dakar to N’Djamena. The second phase of the priority road transport programme is contained in Decision C/DEC.8/12/88 relating to the various sections of the interconnecting roads for the opening-up of landlocked countries. Facilitation of road transport Measures adopted to facilitate the movement of goods between Member States include:
Construction of the trans West African highway network
Results from field missions to determine the status of implementation of the priority programme showed that about 83% or 3,777 km out of the 4,560 km of the trans costal highway had been completed. The remaining sections to be completed are:
With respect to the trans-Sahelian highway, the field mission results showed that out of the 4,460 km, 3,894 km or 87% had been completed. The sections remaining to be completed are as follows:
Other modes of transport The Authority of Heads of State and Government ratified the proposal to have an airline, company "ECOAIR", and a coastal navigation company created by the private sector. These two projects are at an advanced stage. Besides, ECOWAS has undertaken a study on the interconnection of railway networks the search for the funding of which is progress. Telecommunications sector programme The principal objectives of the INTELCOM I programme were as follows:
From 1983 to 1992, the Community, through the ECOWAS Fund, made significant efforts to finance the first programme which attained 95% of its initial objectives as confirmed by the evaluation undertaken by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). The Authority directed the Executive Secretariat to elaborate and implement a second telecommunications programme to be known as INTELCOM II. The main objective of the INTELCOM II programme is to provide the Community with a regional telecommunications network that is modern, reliable, and capable of offering a wider variety of services, including multimedia and wide band services. This will reduce transits through countries outside Africa and improve direct links between Member States. Energy Sector ECOWAS has prepared a master plan for the development of the energy potential of the sub-region. This master plan is awaiting adoption by the Community decision-making authorities. The master plan covers the following areas: Hydro-electric dam sites
Thermal plants The construction of gas-fuelled thermal plants in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana and the rehabilitation of thermal plants in Nigeria will make it possible to have a capacity of roughly 9000 MW. The cost of the investments necessary is estimated at 6.4 billion US dollars. Interconnection of national electricity grids Roughly 5600 km of electricity lines interconnecting the segments of national grids will be put in place. On the whole, investments to be made in respect of the entire electricity generation and interconnecting line infrastructure stand at roughly 11.8 billion US dollars, inclusive of contingencies, over a nineteen-year period. This infrastructure would make it possible to provide the ECOWAS sub-region with an installed capacity of 10000 MW, corresponding to the capacity necessary to satisfy the estimated demand by the year 2015. West African Gas Pipeline Project
It is envisaged to use natural gas, a non-polluting source of energy currently considered as the cheapest source of energy compared to the other sources of conventional energy, as supplement for hydroelectric energy which is adversely affected by the uncontrollable vagaries of the weather. To this end, Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo decided to construct a gas pipeline which will make it possible for the four countries to utilise natural gas from Nigeria for the generation of energy. Details of the project are as follows: -construction of a gas pipeline between Warri in Nigeria and the border between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, using the system used in the construction of the Lagos-Escravos pipeline;
The private sector has already expressed interest in the implementation of the project. The project is at an advanced stage. Regional renewable energy programme As part of attempts to diversify energy sources, ECOWAS drew up a regional programme for the utilisation of renewable energy sources in response particularly to the energy needs of the under-privileged rural areas which are remote from the national electricity grid. This programme aims mainly at solar energy, (photovoltaic), biomass, mini and micro hydro-electric projects and energy conservation. In connection with the development of ECOWAS energy resources, the Authority of Heads of State and Government accepted the principles of an ECOWAS energy exchange programme, "Power Pool", which will help to facilitate the production and exchange of electrical energy between the countries with surplus supply and the countries in short supply. For the financing of all these programmes, ECOWAS intends to play the role of facilitator before the development partners and to participate in the financing of a number of projects through the ECOWAS Fund.
PRODUCTION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME In
spite of the adoption of a regional strategy for the development of
agriculture by the Authority of Heads of State and Government since
1982, ECOWAS has not been able to realise its maximum potential in
agriculture. This strategy which was based on State intervention
seems outmoded at present as a result of the new changes in the
economic environment in West Africa which favour the development of
the private sector.
Furthermore, the setting-up of regional seed multiplication and cattle breeding centres has not been realised for the same reasons. The strategy is being up-dated.
A transhumance certificate (for cattle breeding) was adopted by the Authority of Heads of State and Government and is currently in force.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROGRAMME Floating weed control programme This programme was adopted by the Community decision- making authorities which directed the Executive Secretariat to carry out the necessary fund mobilisation. A donors conference was organised during which the recipient countries (Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, mauritania, Niger and Senegal) undertook to provide the necessary counterpart funding. ECOWAS conducted a more detailed study on the sites of new infestations in Burkina Faso, Guinea, Togo, Gambia and the Volta basin; The Executive Secretariat will embark on enlightenment missions aimed at obtaining financing for the programme and ensuring better coordination with the partners. Regional meteorological programme A project document on the strengthening of synoptic observation systems in eleven countries was prepared in collaboration with the WMO. The UNDP and other development partners will also be contacted in an attempt to obtain the additional funds. The Member States concerned have undertaken to provide counterpart funding for projects located in their territories. iDesertification control programme By Decision A/DEC.1/12/99, the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government adopted a sub-regional action programme (SRAP) to combat desertification in West Africa. The Executive Secretariat and CILSS were mandated to negotiate funding for the programme with development partners. To this end, ECOWAS and CILSS agreed that priority should be given to the formulation of guidelines for regional projects covering three areas of activity, namely: shared water resources; agricultural and livestock resources and energy resources. ECOWAS and CILSS are to seek the support of development partners such as UNEP, the GEF and UNSO. Water resource management ECOWAS is active in sub-regional water resource management programme. These included the integrated development programme for the Fouta-jallon highlands. CULTURAL AND SOCIAL CO-OPERATION PROGRAMME
Creation of the West African Health Organisation: OCCGE / WAHC Merger The ECOWAS Ministers of Health have unanimously accepted in principle to form a common regional health organisation for the entire sub-region by merging the "Organisation Commune de Lutte Contre les Grandes Endémies" (OCCGE) and the West African Health Community (WAHC). The protocol establishing the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) was adopted in July, 1997 by the Authority of Heads of State and Government. The implementation Committee set up to monitor the merger submitted its final report to the meeting of Ministers of Health, held in Lomé on 30 and 31 July, 1998. The Heads of State recommended, in addition, that Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina Faso) be selected as WAHO headquarters and that a Director-General and a Deputy Director-General be appointed for the organisation. These developments augur well for the rationalisation of the other IGOs in the sub-region. Drug Control Co-ordination Programme in West Africa
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The
Authority of Heads of State and Government, on the recommendation
of the Council of Ministers, approved the Community telecommunications
programme known as INTELCOM I at its May 1979 session
held in Dakar. The objective of the programme was to improve and
expand the sub-regional
telecommunications network.
The
following hydro-electric dam sites which are deemed to be of
regional interest are to be developed: MAU in Ghana, Fomi in Guinea,
Salthino in Guinea Bissau, Bumbuna in Sierra Leone, Manantali in
Mali, Garafiri in Guinea, and Adjarala in Togo and in Benin. The
Manantali and Garafiri sites are currently being developed. A donors’
conference has been held in connection with the Adjarala site. The
development of this site will make it possible to interconnect the
North of Togo with the North of Benin.
