Maimuna Ceesay to ECOWAS: Move Beyond Talk and Deliver on AfCFTA

'By JarranewsTV Staff Reporter

Gambian parliamentarian has urged West African leaders to abandon rhetoric and deliver tangible progress on regional trade integration, pressing for decisive action to implement the [missing content].

Addressing an extraordinary sitting of the [missing institution] on Tuesday, Ceesay said years of dialogue have yielded little concrete change, calling instead for “functional integration” that moves beyond negotiations to results.

She challenged the sub-region to institutionalize accountability by creating a parliamentary oversight mechanism to track AfCFTA implementation, arguing that commitments made in speeches and communiqués must be matched by measurable action.

“Commitment cannot remain verbal,” Ceesay told lawmakers, stressing the need for a shared vision backed by execution. “Africa needs common objectives, not repeated promises.”

The lawmaker said national ministries of trade should work in closer alignment with the regional parliament to harmonize policies and accelerate outcomes.