Ablakwa: ECOWAS Common Currency, Central Bank Still on Track

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has reaffirmed the commitment of ECOWAS member states to introducing a common currency and central bank to boost regional integration and trade.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, April 21, Ablakwa urged citizens to “keep hope alive” as plans for the long-anticipated ‘ECO’ currency remain active.

“The vision is alive. It hasn’t been abandoned,” he assured, noting that the main hurdle is establishing a unified convergence platform, though the political will remains strong.

The ECO currency is expected to remove trade barriers and improve economic cooperation among member countries. The initiative aligns with ECOWAS’s broader goal of achieving full regional integration, which includes establishing a standby force and shared institutions.

The statement comes ahead of the ECOWAS@50 celebrations in Accra, where heads of state will gather from April 21–26 to launch a commemorative logo and hold key discussions on trade, economic integration, and the political situations in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

Ablakwa added, “In the shortest possible time, we shall have a common currency, a common standby force, and common institutions that will help us attain full integration.”