Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) has issued about 30 decisions since October 2024, as the regional body steps up efforts to curb anti-competitive practices and protect consumers across West Africa.
The disclosure was made by Dr. Juliette Anokye, Chair of the ERCA Council, ahead of the Authority’s inaugural annual conference, which is scheduled to take place in The Gambia next month.
The development highlights ERCA’s growing role in regulating competition across the 15-member ECOWAS region, particularly as businesses expand across borders and concerns over monopolies, mergers, and unfair market practices increase.
Council Decisions Based on Investigations
According to Dr. Anokye, the Council’s decisions are based on investigations conducted by ERCA’s Executive Directorate, headed by Executive Director Dr. Simeon Koffi.
She explained that the Authority operates through two main arms: the Executive Directorate, which conducts investigations and handles the technical aspects of cases, and the Council, which is responsible for making decisions on cases brought before it.
“Since October 2024, the Council has issued about 30 decisions based on the investigations conducted by the Directorate,” Dr. Anokye said.
She added that the impact of each case on consumers is taken into consideration before the Council reaches a ruling.
Dr. Anokye also highlighted the importance of protecting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly during merger reviews.
She said ERCA examines whether large companies could use their market power to disadvantage smaller businesses, warning against situations where dominant firms could effectively “bully” smaller competitors.
Focus on Consumers and SMEs
The Authority’s approach comes as West Africa pursues deeper economic integration and seeks to remove barriers to the movement of goods, services, and investment.
With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) creating opportunities for companies to operate across larger markets, competition regulators face increasing pressure to ensure that market expansion does not come at the expense of consumers and smaller businesses.
ERCA was established to enforce regional competition rules and address anti-competitive conduct that could affect trade across ECOWAS member states.
Its responsibilities include tackling practices that restrict competition, reviewing certain mergers, and promoting cooperation among national competition authorities.
Banjul Conference
Speaking ahead of the conference in Banjul, Dr. Koffi said the gathering will bring together regulators, businesses, lawyers, government officials, researchers, and competition experts from Africa and beyond.
About 300 participants are expected to attend the inaugural conference.
Koffi said the meeting will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to exchange experiences and examine how competition law can contribute to stronger regional integration.
He said ERCA also intends to learn from competition authorities in other jurisdictions and use those lessons to strengthen its institutional framework.
For consumers, the strengthening of regional competition rules could have direct implications for prices, product choices, and the quality of goods and services available in the market.
For SMEs, stronger competition rules could provide greater protection against dominant companies and help create a more level playing field.
The Banjul conference comes as ECOWAS seeks to deepen its regional market and ensure that economic integration benefits not only major corporations but also smaller businesses and consumers.
The Gambia’s hosting of the inaugural conference is expected to place the country at the center of discussions on the future of competition regulation and consumer welfare in West Africa.
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