Rawlings calls for a more active ECOWAS

Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings has urged West African countries to depend less on their colonial masters and work towards promoting the economic integration of the sub-region, PANA reported on Wednesday. "Some of us are trapped in over-reliance on our relations with our colonial masters, placing more emphasis on their perceptions," Rawlings said on Tuesday in Accra. "Even if they mean well, it should be to complement our efforts," he said in an audience with a Nigerian trade
delegation.

The delegation led by Jerry Gana, Minister of Co-operation and
Integration, had just concluded two days of bilateral talks on measures to make the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) more functional.

Gana said concrete decisions had been taken on cooperation between Ghana and Nigeria in terms of a common currency and free movement of goods and people. "We are talking about a rail link between Accra and Lagos," he said. "We are moving fast because time is not on our side."

The 16-nation ECOWAS is facing serious challenges from UEMOA, a monetary union formed by French-speaking ECOWAS members, PANA reported. PANA quoted Rawlings as saying that UEMOA had made advances because of external support. "Some of us have to rely on ourselves," he said.

"If we do what we need to do, we will achieve more," he said, adding that West Africa should not allow itself to be balkanised economically.