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Under the new structure of the ECOWAS
Commission, there is a Department of Transport and
Telecommunications under the Commissioner for
Infrastructure. The Department of Transport and
Telecommunications have the responsibility to carry out the
following functions in conformity with Articles 32 and 33 of
the ECOWAS Revised Treaty:
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Develop Common Transport and
Telecommunications policies, laws and regulations;
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Develop an extensive network of all
weather highways within the Community;
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Formulate programmes for the improvement
and integration of railway networks;
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Formulate programmes for the improvement
of coastal shipping services and inter state inland
waterways and for the harmonization of maritime
transport policies and services;
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Promote the development of regional air
transport services and implement air transport safety
and security programmes;
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Encourage the establishment and promotion
of joint ventures and the participation of the private
sector in the areas of Transport and Telecommunications.
Specifically in the area of
Telecommunications the Department shall assist Member States
in:
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Developing, modernizing and coordinating
their national networks in order to provide reliable
interconnection;
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Coordinating their efforts with regard to
the operation and maintenance of West African portion of
the Pan-African Telecommunications network and in the
mobilization of national and international financial
resources.
In carrying out its mandate, due attention
shall be paid to other initiatives in the sectors both at
regional and international levels. The Department shall
cooperate with the UEMOA Commission in the sub-region and
other technical bodies such ECA, WORLD BANK, ITU, ICAO, IMO,
PMAWCA, PAPU etc…. whose mandates cover these two sectors.
For the implementation of the above mandate,
the following structure is proposed for the Department of
Transport and Telecommunications. |
