Explain any five obstacles working against the achievement of the objectives of ECOWAS
Explanation
Obstacles working against ECOWAS include:
(i) Language problem: Economic integration within the region has been hindered by differences in language.
(ii) Political instability: Constant change of government of member countries has limited the achievement of its objectives.
(iii) Lack of infrastructural facilities: Infrastructural facilities like good road networks, modern communication systems are absent in the region, thereby limiting its achievement.
(iv) Affinity to former colonial masters: The Francophone countries, for example, are yet to cut the economic chains binding them to France.
(v) Currency problems: In this region, there are more than twelve different currency units and this has made a payment more difficult.
(vi) Smuggling: This problem of smuggling is exacerbated by the free movement of “community citizens”.