Accra: Experts from member states of the Economic Community of West African States are convening in Accra to review, validate, and approve draft regulations for the ECOWAS community levy operations manual. This four-day meeting has gathered experts from the Central Banks of Member States and members of the ECOWAS Administration and Finance Committee.
According to Ghana News Agency, the meeting is organized by the Finance and Budget Directorate of the ECOWAS Internal Services Department and aims to engage stakeholders in a strategic dialogue for the development of the final version of the ECOWAS Community Levy User Manual. The Community Levy, which accounts for 70% to 80% of the ECOWAS budget, is a 0.5% tax applied to the total value of goods imported from non-ECOWAS countries.
Dr. Roberts Moikowa, representing the Chairman of the ECOWAS Administration and Finance Committee, emphasized the manual's importance in sustaining the levy and improving compliance. He stated that the tax provided between 70% and 90% of ECOWAS budget financing for its activities and regional programs.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the meeting, Molokwu Azikiwe, the ECOWAS Commission's Director of Budget and Treasury, highlighted the necessity of the review to maintain the levy's role as a reliable funding source for regional integration programs. Azikiwe noted that after nearly two decades of use, the protocol must be updated to reflect new realities in trade and revenue mobilization.
Azikiwe further explained that the protocol's amendment, improvement, and updating are essential for addressing current trends in revenue collections. On enforcement, he mentioned that sanctions for non-compliance remain a policy tool, though final decisions rest with higher authorities, such as the Council of Ministers and the Heads of State.
Prof. Nazil Abdullahi Darma, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Internal Services, stressed the urgency of developing an effective operations manual, citing operational challenges as a reason for the review. The final manual will be presented to the ECOWAS Council of Ministers for approval.
