2. transparency: it is based on free flow of information. Persons involved may have direct access to the process and institutions, and accessible information is enough to understand and ensure follow-up of issues. The state comes in to address market issues, regulate tax payments and promote the wellbeing of citizens.

To make its intervention very efficient, government must readily give information about its decisions, for the sake of transparency and control of these decisions by citizens, and also bring about the needed participation of citizens in the success of public policies.

3. Rule of law: legal frameworks should be equitable, and laws must be applied in an impartial manner, particularly laws relating to human rights.

4. Participation: all men and women should have a say in decision-making, either directly or through legitimate institutions, which represent their interests.

Broad-based participation focused on freedom of association and of speech, as well as the needed capacities to participate constructively in decision-making. For example, citizens learn to organize themselves into pressure groups or facilitation groups to force public authorities to resolve issues of public policy that affect them and/or assist them, where necessary, in addressing these issues. This could be done with the assistance of Non-Governmental Organisations (N.G.Os).

- Good governance challenges in the region

ECOWAS has procured important instruments for ensuring good governance at regional level:

- Protocol A/SP1/12/01 on democracy and good governance, supplementary protocol on the mechanism of prevention, management, conflict resolution, maintenance of peace and security;

Protocol A/SP1/12/01 on democracy and good governance, supplementary protocol on the mechanism of conflict prevention, management and resolution, of peacekeeping and security. [Online]. (Page consulted on 15/06/2012). http://www.comm.ecowas.int/sec/fr/protocoles/Protocole-additionnel-sur-la-Bonne-gouvernance-et-la-democ.pdf (to be harmonized with other sources)

- Protocol on free movement of persons, right of residence of 1979 ;

Protocol on the 1982 Code of Community citizenship.

	2. transparency: it is based on free flow of information. Persons involved may have direct access to the process and institutions, and accessible information is enough to understand and ensure follow-up of issues. The state comes in to address market issues, regulate tax payments and promote the wellbeing of citizens. To make its intervention very efficient, government must readily give information about its decisions, for the sake of transparency and control of these decisions by citizens, and also bring about the needed participation of citizens in the success of public policies. 3. Rule of law: legal frameworks should be equitable, and laws must be applied in an impartial manner, particularly laws relating to human rights. 4. Participation: all men and women should have a say in decision-making, either directly or through legitimate institutions, which represent their interests. Broad-based participation focused on freedom of association and of speech, as well as the needed capacities to participate constructively in decision-making. For example, citizens learn to organize themselves into pressure groups or facilitation groups to force public authorities to resolve issues of public policy that affect them and/or assist them, where necessary, in addressing these issues. This could be done with the assistance of Non-Governmental Organisations (N.G.Os). - Good governance challenges in the region ECOWAS has procured important instruments for ensuring good governance at regional level: - Protocol A/SP1/12/01 on democracy and good governance, supplementary protocol on the mechanism of prevention, management, conflict resolution, maintenance of peace and security; Protocol A/SP1/12/01 on democracy and good governance, supplementary protocol on the mechanism of conflict prevention, management and resolution, of peacekeeping and security. [Online]. (Page consulted on 15/06/2012). http://www.comm.ecowas.int/sec/fr/protocoles/Protocole-additionnel-sur-la-Bonne-gouvernance-et-la-democ.pdf (to be harmonized with other sources) - Protocol on free movement of persons, right of residence of 1979 ; Protocol on the 1982 Code of Community citizenship.
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