Ghana, Nigeria customs service to publish exemptions

Ghana and Nigeria have called on custorms service to publish the list of products eligible for exemption under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocol and urged officials to ensure compliance to ensure the smooth implementation of ECOWAS trade liberalisation.

At a bilateral meeting on ECOWAS fast track initiative between Ghana and Nigeria held in Abuja, the two countries also discussed the need to quicken action towards early adoption of common external tariff and urged countries in the sub-region to take steps to harmonise the different tariff regimes within the sub-region.

A communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by Ghana's Economic Planning and regional Co-operation Minister, Dr Kwesi Nduom, and his Nigerian counterpart, Chief Dr Bimbola Ogunkele, commended the establishment of the West African Monetary Institute (WAMI) and urged governments in the sub-region to strive to achieve the targets set of the creation of the second monetary zone.

It called on and Accra.

In addition, they the Ecowas Secretariat to speed up its arrangement for the study on the rail links between Lagos urged individual countries to exploit the possibility of finding sponsorship for the study.

The ministers called on the community to implement the proposed ECOAIR, whilst they implement the Yamoussoukro Treaty, which was designed to liberalise the air space within West and Central Africa.

They called for a review of bilateral air service agreements to allow private airlines to operate scheduled flights in the sub-region.

The meeting also took note of how Ghana and Nigeria have reduced roadblocks along the Trans-Ecowas Highways, and urged other members to implement similar initiatives to ease the movement of goods and services.