Competition and consumer protection officials from across West Africa have met in Conakry, Guinea, to review proposed regulatory changes and strengthen cooperation against anti-competitive business practices in the regional market.
The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) convened the 13th meeting of its Competition Consultative Committee from 2 to 4 November, bringing together specialists from member states to examine draft policies, rules and guidelines before their submission to the authority’s decision-making bodies.
In an official statement dated 6 November, the Economic Community of West African States said the meeting was part of efforts to improve the implementation of competition rules, reinforce consumer protection and support economic integration through more consistent legal and institutional frameworks.
Why regional competition rules matter
Regional trade agreements can reduce barriers at borders, but businesses may still face obstacles when markets are dominated by powerful firms, suppliers coordinate prices or commercial practices make it difficult for new entrants to compete.
Competition policy seeks to address conduct that restricts fair market participation. Consumer protection frameworks, meanwhile, can help ensure that buyers receive reliable information and have access to appropriate remedies when businesses breach applicable rules.
For West African companies trading across several countries, inconsistent regulatory approaches can create uncertainty. A business may face different reporting expectations, enforcement procedures and definitions of prohibited conduct from one market to another.
Greater cooperation among national authorities could improve predictability, particularly where business conduct affects consumers and competitors in more than one country.
Proposed reforms under review
According to ECOWAS, the Conakry meeting’s agenda included a proposed amendment to Regulation C/REG.23/12/21, discussion of the declaration from the committee’s inaugural conference, competition policy and law reform, and consideration of the proposed establishment of an OECD centre in West Africa.
Delegates were also expected to review ERCA’s annual report and exchange country-level updates on the implementation of competition and consumer protection laws.
These items represent subjects for consultation and review. The announcement does not establish that the proposed amendment or other measures were formally approved by the relevant ECOWAS decision-making institutions.
Building enforcement capacity
ERCA Executive Director Simeon K. Koffi announced plans for training seminars under the Programme to Support Competition and Consumer Product Safety in Sub-Saharan Africa, known as PACoSPro. The initiative is intended to strengthen the capabilities of officials and other actors involved in competition oversight.
Capacity building matters because effective competition rules depend on more than written legislation. Authorities need staff able to assess complex commercial arrangements, collect evidence, evaluate market conditions and enforce decisions consistently.
Officials also need mechanisms to cooperate when potentially anti-competitive conduct crosses borders. Without such coordination, investigations can be fragmented and businesses may face conflicting expectations.
The ECOWAS statement said committee chairperson Talime Abe encouraged members to review and take ownership of the inaugural declaration. Speaking for Guinea’s trade and industry authorities, Bamba Oliano emphasised the need to equip national institutions with sufficient resources to enforce competition rules.
Implications for businesses and consumers
For smaller enterprises, fairer competition can improve the prospect of entering markets and reaching customers. For consumers, effective enforcement can help discourage collusion and exclusionary conduct, although competition regulation alone cannot guarantee lower prices.
Regional harmonisation may also support investment by giving companies greater confidence that similar commercial principles will apply across neighbouring markets.
That objective is especially relevant as West African economies pursue greater integration. Trade facilitation and infrastructure investment can expand market access, but a predictable regulatory environment is also needed to ensure that businesses can compete on transparent terms.
What comes next
The Competition Consultative Committee is a technical body whose work informs ERCA’s governing structures. Its recommendations and reviews can shape future policy, but final legal effects depend on the applicable approval and implementation processes.
The next indicators of progress will be publication of the meeting’s conclusions, confirmation of any adopted instruments and evidence of stronger coordination among national competition authorities.
For now, the Conakry meeting illustrates ECOWAS’s continuing effort to move regional integration beyond tariff and border questions toward the rules that govern how companies operate within a shared market.
Source: ECOWAS, ERCA Opens the 13th Competition Consultative Committee Meeting in Conakry, 6 November 2026.
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