THE ROLE OF THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY OF WEST AFRICAN STATES (ECOWAS) IN THE INDUSTRIALISATION OF WEST AFRICA.

For most countries in the South, one of their greatest aspirations is to attain a
reasonable degree of industrialisation. This is because it is either correctly or
erroneously believed that industrialisation forms the bedrock of economic development.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOW AS) is one of the integration
schemes established in Africa as a means of attaining higher industrialisation. Its
membership consists of sixteen West African countries whose economies are largely
dependent on the North. Its setting provides a good context to postulate on the myths
and realities of achieving the goals of industrialisation within dependent relations of
production and exchange.
The Treaty of Lagos (1975) which established ECOWAS, attempts to address the
problem of low level of industrial development in West Africa from the onset; albeit
within the framework of a 'hybrid' of customs union and 'laissez faire' system. The
assumption is that through this model ECOW AS can achieve production integration, and
also that the wider market which ECOW AS is expected to promote can prevent the
negative effects, contradictions · and limitations of individual country's import -
substitution industrialisation strategy! However. in its two decades of existance,
ECOW AS has not demonstrated any potential or actual capability to stimulate industrial
development in West Africa. ECOWAS has not evolved an effective regional strategy
for industrialisation; and the disappointing overall industrial performance of the
ECOWAS sub-region is undeniable. It is against this background that this study focuses