Acra, Ghana – Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, a member of the ECOWAS committee and interim chairperson for the Ewe Commission of the African Union, has urged for a borderless Africa to enhance trade and prosperity in the sub-region.
Speaking at the 15th Anniversary Lecture and Discourse of Nigerian Eye Newspaper on the theme “Trade Conundrum: Expanding Understanding on the ECOWAS Module as a Catalyst to Prosperity in Sub-Saharan Africa”,at the British Council Auditorium, she shared her personal experience of being hindered by border restrictions and language barriers while traveling to Benin and Togo.
“I spent four hours at the border between my country and Togo, and another four hours at the Togo-Benin border. I was punished for not speaking French, a legacy of colonialism that makes it difficult for me to communicate in Ewe, my native language,” she said.
Hon. Gomashie emphasized the need for free movement of goods and people, as stipulated by ECOWAS, and lamented the lack of progress in achieving this goal. She stressed the importance of including women and creatives in the trade process, citing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) as an example of a document that neglects the interests of women and skilled artisans.
“Why can’t we trade easily in our vibrant traditional textiles and jewelry? Why can’t we have a fair-trade fair for Nigerian Ashoke and Ghana Kepke? We need to exorcise the spirit of colonialism that squeezes us out of the space,” she said.
She passionately advocated for a borderless Africa, comparing the ease of travel within the Schengen zone in Europe to the challenges faced in Africa. “Why can’t we have a borderless Africa like Europe? We are treated like potential criminals at our borders. It’s time to break down these barriers and work together for prosperity in Sub-Saharan Africa.”
The Nigerian Eye 15th Anniversary lecture aimed to expand understanding of the ECOWAS module as a catalyst for prosperity in Sub-Saharan Africa, and Hon. Gomashie’s speech was a resounding call to action towards achieving this goal.
