GCCPC, ECOWAS push for stronger laws to drive regional growth
Held at Metzy Hotel in Banjul, the seminar brought together policymakers, business leaders, civil society organisations, legal practitioners, academics, journalists and development partners to deepen understanding of competition law, consumer protection and regional economic integration. Speaking at the opening ceremony, ERCA Executive Director Dr. Simeon Koffi described competition policy as a vital tool for improving the business environment, enhancing competitiveness and promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth across West Africa. He said the seminar forms part of a broader regional awareness campaign being implemented in ECOWAS member states, following similar engagements in Guinea and Sierra Leone. “For regional integration to deliver its full benefits, opening borders and removing trade barriers is not enough. Markets must function efficiently, businesses must compete on a level playing field, and consumers must benefit from economic openness,” Dr. Koffi said. He noted that competition policy helps stimulate innovation, improve the quality of goods and services, encourage investment and protect consumers from unfair market practices. According to him, anti-competitive practices such as price-fixing, market sharing and restricting new entrants undermine economic growth, reduce opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises and ultimately harm consumers. Dr. Koffi highlighted the adoption of ECOWAS Community Competition Rules in 2008 and the establishment of ERCA as major milestones in the region’s integration agenda, stressing that growing cross-border trade and digital markets require stronger regional cooperation among competition authorities. He further noted that the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents enormous opportunities for African businesses but also demands effective mechanisms to ensure fair competition across the continent. Mariana Tavares, representing PACoSPro, said the programme was launched a year ago and began its activities in The Gambia. She described the first year of implementation as highly successful, with similar national seminars conducted in several West African countries. She said the programme seeks not only to support legal and regulatory reforms but also to create platforms for dialogue among governments, businesses, civil society and judicial institutions. Representing the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, the Deputy Permanent Secretary reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening competition regulation and consumer protection. She revealed that GCCPC has developed The Gambia’s first Draft National Merger Regulations and Guidelines aimed at providing a transparent framework for assessing mergers and acquisitions, safeguarding competition and preventing anti-competitive conduct. She also highlighted plans to decentralise GCCPC operations to ensure that competition and consumer protection services become accessible to all Gambians regardless of their location. The official commended ERCA’s leadership in promoting regional cooperation and harmonisation of competition policies across ECOWAS, noting that stronger collaboration among member states would enhance investor confidence, facilitate cross-border trade and contribute to a more competitive regional market. The seminar is expected to strengthen stakeholder understanding of competition policy and consumer rights while fostering greater cooperation among institutions working to promote fair markets and economic development across West Africa.
Black News 
Held at Metzy Hotel in Banjul, the seminar brought together policymakers, business leaders, civil society organisations, legal practitioners, academics, journalists and development partners to deepen understanding of competition law, consumer protection and regional economic integration.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, ERCA Executive Director Dr. Simeon Koffi described competition policy as a vital tool for improving the business environment, enhancing competitiveness and promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth across West Africa.
He said the seminar forms part of a broader regional awareness campaign being implemented in ECOWAS member states, following similar engagements in Guinea and Sierra Leone.
“For regional integration to deliver its full benefits, opening borders and removing trade barriers is not enough. Markets must function efficiently, businesses must compete on a level playing field, and consumers must benefit from economic openness,” Dr. Koffi said.
He noted that competition policy helps stimulate innovation, improve the quality of goods and services, encourage investment and protect consumers from unfair market practices.
According to him, anti-competitive practices such as price-fixing, market sharing and restricting new entrants undermine economic growth, reduce opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises and ultimately harm consumers.
Dr. Koffi highlighted the adoption of ECOWAS Community Competition Rules in 2008 and the establishment of ERCA as major milestones in the region’s integration agenda, stressing that growing cross-border trade and digital markets require stronger regional cooperation among competition authorities.
He further noted that the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presents enormous opportunities for African businesses but also demands effective mechanisms to ensure fair competition across the continent.
Mariana Tavares, representing PACoSPro, said the programme was launched a year ago and began its activities in The Gambia. She described the first year of implementation as highly successful, with similar national seminars conducted in several West African countries.
She said the programme seeks not only to support legal and regulatory reforms but also to create platforms for dialogue among governments, businesses, civil society and judicial institutions.
Representing the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, the Deputy Permanent Secretary reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening competition regulation and consumer protection.
She revealed that GCCPC has developed The Gambia’s first Draft National Merger Regulations and Guidelines aimed at providing a transparent framework for assessing mergers and acquisitions, safeguarding competition and preventing anti-competitive conduct.
She also highlighted plans to decentralise GCCPC operations to ensure that competition and consumer protection services become accessible to all Gambians regardless of their location.
The official commended ERCA’s leadership in promoting regional cooperation and harmonisation of competition policies across ECOWAS, noting that stronger collaboration among member states would enhance investor confidence, facilitate cross-border trade and contribute to a more competitive regional market.
The seminar is expected to strengthen stakeholder understanding of competition policy and consumer rights while fostering greater cooperation among institutions working to promote fair markets and economic development across West Africa.
