A member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has called on Beninese traders to vigorously assert their rights under the bloc’s protocol on Free Movement of Goods and Services, despite ongoing challenges at regional borders.
Hon. Nassirou Bako-Arifari, a member of the Benin delegation, made the appeal during a town hall meeting organized by the Community Parliament in Cotonou. Addressing the grievances of traders who frequently face obstacles while conducting business across member states, he encouraged them to formally petition Benin’s national parliament regarding the difficulties they encounter with the implementation of ECOWAS protocols.
“These rights are enshrined in our treaties,” Hon. Bako-Arifari stated, specifically urging the traders—many of whom are university graduates—to insist on their lawful entitlements when challenged by border officials.
However, his call to action was met with a cautionary tale from a female trader in attendance. She recounted her recent regret after choosing to challenge immigration and customs officers over her right to free passage. According to her account, following a tense one-hour argument with officials, the bus she was traveling on to Ivory Coast was forced to depart without her, leaving her stranded and regretting her insistence on the protocol in that moment.
The incident highlights the persistent gap between ECOWAS policy and on-the-ground enforcement, leaving many economic operators caught between legal rights and the practical realities of regional travel.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/EcowasNewsOnline.com
