- Challenges of good governance in our region

Despite these provisions, there still exists:

Corruption: it persists in the States, in its passive and active forms in the social and economic realms, as well as in republican principles and the democratization process. For example:

- Public utility works are poorly executed by companies as a result of non compliance with contract specifications, thus leading to additional costs at the expense of the tax payer;

- A public sector teachers who provides teaching services in the private sector, does not complete the syllabus with his pupils , but at the end of the school year, pupils have to sit for the examinations;

- Or high cost of living caused by costs associated with corruption, which, in many cases are passed on to consumers.

- Difficulties in implementing delegation of authority and decentralization due to lack of transparency and good governance.

- Lack of concern and respect for public good.

Difficulties related to the free movement of persons and goods: this area is hampered by cross-border harassment and even within the countries while the safety of persons and goods is not guaranteed.

Other governance-related issues need consideration. These are:

- Exclusion policies;

- Lack of transparency;

- No follow-up and slowness in processing some sub-regional documentation;

- Absence of accountability;

- Deficit or absence of rule of law;

- Cross-border harassment;

- etc.

ECOWAS, however, is one of the most successful integration models. There is need to improve on efforts aimed at popularizing good governance, regional citizenship and integration of peoples.