'Empathize with accident victims' – ECOWAS Brown Card Chair to insurance practitioners

The Chairman of the Council of Bureaux of the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme and also the Managing Director of Phoenix Insurance Company (Ghana), Mr. Henry Bukari, has advised practitioners and handlers of motor insurance claims to empathize with victims who find themselves in countries other than their own within the ECOWAS sub-region.

He expressed concern over the delay in compensation payments to victims by some National Bureaux operators and handlers, stating that "everyone is a potential accident victim anywhere."

Mr. Bukari made these remarks during the first zonal meeting of the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme held in Conakry, Guinea. The meeting aimed to facilitate the exchange of ideas, sharing of best practices, and exploration of new opportunities for cooperation among participants from ECOWAS countries to promote the sustainable development of West African states.

The ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme extends motor insurance coverage to promote the free movement of people and goods in the ECOWAS region by ensuring rapid and fair compensation for cross-border claims.

The launch of the meeting was presided over by Mrs. Souadou Baldé, the Second Vice-Governor of the Central Bank of the Republic of Guinea, representing Mr. Karamo Kaba, the Governor of the Central Bank of Guinea.

Mrs. Baldé expressed hope that the discussions and sharing of experiences during the meeting would lead to relevant recommendations and resolutions to achieve their objectives.

"I hope that during this period, your exchanges and sharing of experiences will lead to relevant recommendations and useful resolutions to achieve our objectives. The Central Bank of the Republic of Guinea, as the insurance supervisory authority [of the country, Guinea], undertakes to implement the measures and resolutions resulting from these meetings. I am confident that each jurisdiction present here will also take the necessary steps to make the settlement of cross-border claims in the sub-region effective”.

Mr. Bukari, the Chairman of the ECOWAS Brown Card Council of Bureaux, provided further details on the meeting's objectives, focusing on revising technical texts related to the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme, particularly those concerning the settlement of cross-border claims. The aim is to ensure better coverage and expedited settlement of accident victims in the sub-region.

Mr Ciré Bah, Chairman of the Guinean National Office of the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme on his part said he was pleased to have hosted the first meeting of their organization.

"On behalf of the Guinean insurance market, I would like to express our satisfaction. The Guinean market is very honored to welcome many of you to this first ECOWAS Brown Card Zonal Meeting. The choice of Guinea to host both the first meeting of the Executive Committee and the first zonal meeting for the year 2024 testifies to the consideration that the ECOWAS Brown Card insurance scheme has for the Guinea National Office," he said.

Participants at the meeting included representatives from various ECOWAS countries, with discussions centering on the inclusion of concubinage relationships in compensation for accident victims who died in cross-border accidents. The meeting aimed to reach a consensus on a standard practice to be adopted across all jurisdictions under the Scheme.

The meeting brought together over 90 participants from West African countries, excluding Cape Verde.

Key participants at the meeting included Mr Winfred Kwesi Dodzi, Secretary-General of the permanent Secretariat of the Scheme, Mr Benjamin Yamoah, Chairman of the Ghana National Bureau, Mr Richard Eshun, General Secretary of the Ghana National Bureau, and Mr Patrick Agyekum, immediate past General Secretary of the GNB and Mr Dicoh Balamine, also the immediate past General Secretary of the Cote D’Ivoire National Bureau.

Also present were Mr. Albert Siaw-Boateng, Director of Free Movement of the ECOWAS Commission and Ambassador Ali Bangura, the Chairman of the Sierra Leone National of Bureau of the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme.

The meeting highlighted the importance of respecting ECOWAS texts to create an inclusive regional community for the well-being of all. The Guinean National Office of the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme expressed satisfaction at hosting the event, emphasizing the significance of the meeting for the organization.





MA