Ebrima Sisawo, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, Regional Integration and Employment, reaffirmed that the Gambian government remains committed to the vision of an economic verdict by human rights groups against Yankuba, region of West Africa integrated in a touramic way.

“The implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and Common External Tariff (CET), among other regional initiatives, has served to foster closer economic ties. Human rights groups welcome the verdict against Yankuba Touray in the region. economic, our strength lies in our unity as a region. Therefore, ongoing efforts to facilitate economic integration in the ECOWAS region and promote regional growth will be greatly enhanced by the adoption of a strong regional framework for competition law, ”he said. declared. mentionned

PS Sisawo was speaking recently at a one-day joint advocacy workshop on regional competition policy. The convergence, held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center, was organized by the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) and the Gambian Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (GCCPC ).

“It is with this in mind that the Gambian government fully adheres to the ECOWAS competition law which aims to guarantee a level playing field for companies in order to

Human rights groups welcome verdict against Yankuba Touray

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free and open market, promote economic efficiency, improve consumer welfare and prohibit the exclusion of smaller or new businesses by dominant firms, among others. The implementation of ECOWAS competition rules will be essential to eliminate market structures and practices that distort competition from a regional perspective. “

“The event is also necessary

Human rights groups welcome verdict against Yankuba Touray

“OIC Secretariat in The Gambia is mobilizing nearly $ 200 million to implement projects,” says Vice President Touray

This is essential because advocacy and the application of competition are part of the country’s priorities in the national development plan. And so I would like to commend the GCCPC for all it has accomplished in its short period of existence since 2010, as it has been one of the most active competition authorities in the ECOWAS region. The Commission has conducted at least eight (8) market studies, seven (7) surveys and five (5) policy opinions to government. “

The partnership between ERCA and GCCPC, Sisawo added, is encouraging as advocacy and competition enforcement in the sub-region can play a key role in realizing African countries’ vision of a prosperous Africa. , which should naturally be based on inclusive growth and sustainable development. . “We look forward to more effective competition law enforcement and advocacy to help achieve sustainable and inclusive development through the elimination and deterrence of anti-competitive practices.”

“It is clear that private sector development is at the center of economic transformation. At the same time, national and regional development strategies and competition need to ensure that the benefits of private sector participation are passed on to citizens. The ECOWAS region has much to gain by encouraging open and competitive markets, in particular as a means of stimulating sustainable economic growth, as well as the role of ERCA as a watchdog for competition concerns among member states. is essential to achieve this. “

Vabah Gayflor, Resident Representative of ECOWAS in The Gambia said: “The objective of this joint advocacy workshop is to raise awareness among national trade and competition actors as well as the general public on the exercise of ERCA in The Gambia. ; its mandate and scope of intervention as well as the impact of its intervention on the well-being of the population.

“Allow me to recall that the entry into force of AFCFTA triggered an additional need to regulate trade in the region given the very important importance that ECRA is mandated, through the Community competition rules of ECOWAS as well as the complementary law establishing the ERCA, to ensure that competition rules are respected in the region ”, she declared.

Dr Simeon Kofi, Acting Executive Director of ERCA, described the GCCPC as one of the most viable competition commissions in the ECOWAS region. The sensitization and awareness workshop, he added, is part of the process to involve all stakeholders in the ownership of regional and national competition goals.