A multi-agency working group, comprising members of the Consultative Competition Committee (CCC) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) and sectoral experts from Member States, convened in Banjul, Republic of The Gambia, to prepare the methodology, data collection questionnaire, and detailed structure of the report of the Study on Digital Markets.

From the 11th to the 15th of March 2024, the meeting brought together Members of the ERCA Consultative Competition Committee, CCC, sectoral experts from Member States, and ERCA staff. The objective was to review and share inputs on the study on digital markets, focusing on the scope, methodology, study approach, data collection framework, data analysis, detailed study outline, and timeline.

The Executive Director of ERCA, Simeon Koffi, representing the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, and the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Madame Massandjé Toure-Litse, welcomed the delegates to Banjul and expressed gratitude for their participation.

Koffi highlighted that the meeting was a preparatory step for the digital market study, following the recommendations of the 8th CCC meeting held in Abuja in February. The study aims to enhance member states’ and ERCA’s understanding of market dynamics and the regulatory environment for the digital market, as well as to assess the state of competition and consumer protection in member states.

The study will focus on e-commerce and online financial platforms in informal and formal sectors, including online advertisement, marketing, and search engines. The ultimate goal is to provide guidelines for digital markets to be competitive and consumer-oriented while adhering to community competition rules and protecting consumer rights.

At the conclusion of the study, ERCA will receive a detailed outline of the country reports, which is expected to enhance competition and consumer protection in the region.

The meeting signifies ECOWAS’s commitment to fostering a competitive and consumer-friendly digital market in West Africa, in line with global trends and best practices.