Burkina Faso: Award-Winning Border Flows

DIÁLOGO/www.ecowas.int/ECOWAS

2011 v21-1

[ECOWAS]

Burkina Faso was named the winner of the inaugural Free Movement Excellence Award for its outstanding implementation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Goods and Services.

A representative of the country received an award for $10,000 and a certificate during the third ECOWAS Business Forum, where 45 other awards for innovation and entrepreneurship were given out.

Burkina Faso was cited for the elimination of harassments along the borders, removal of nontrade tariffs along its border routes, removal of multiple checkpoints and the effective monitoring of its highways to ensure the safety of citizens. The flagship protocol was signed in 1979 by ECOWAS heads of state and government as an instrument to facilitate the intracommunity movement of citizens. The goal was to boost intraregional trade to stimulate West Africa’s economy and promote employment.