Aflao, May 31, GNA - Mr. Wilson Atakrofa, President of the West Chamber of Commerce and Industry [WACCI], has appealed to ECOWAS leaders to expedite action on the implementation of protocols on sub-regional integration.

He said the protocol on the Free Movement of People in particular was so paramount for the ECOWAS economic integration concept that its implementation needed not be delayed any further.

He said it was high time the integration goals were made practical to the benefit of the average ECOWAS citizen by removing all the barriers inhibiting the attainment of the goals. Mr. Atakrofa was addressing a ceremony to mark the 36th anniversary of ECOWAS at the weekend at Aflao. He said benefits of the integration in terms of industry and commerce could not be realized so far due to the inability to implement the Protocol on the free movement of people, goods and services. "ECOWAS must take cue from the European Union which continues to grow in leaps and bounds by successfully implementing its regional Block ideas," he said. Mr. Atakrofa said an increased movement of people across frontiers would impact positively on revenue mobilization and economic advancement in the sub-region as it goes with an expanded economic activity which will in turn lead to a growth in industry. The day, organized by the Foundation for Sustainable Development in Africa {FSDA} - Ghana, a non-governmental organisation, brought together mainly civil society groups and frontier citizens from both Ghana and Togo to sensitise them on their rights and obligations to help them participate in the integration process.

It was on the theme: 93Advancing the Course of ECOWAS Regional Integration: Non-State Actors 96 A Tool for Economic Development." Mr. Lawrence Azumah, Charge' d'Affairs at the Ghana Embassy in ome, said unity and peace remained important for integration and economic progress in the region and appealed to all to respect international and national human rights norms to ensure peace that will in turn facilitate the free flow of people and economic life in the region.