Lomé, May 6, 2025 –(©AfreePress)–The Togolese capital is hosting the 2nd delocalized meeting of the Joint Committee of the ECOWAS Parliament—covering Infrastructure, Agriculture, Environment, Natural Resources, Energy and Mines—from May 5 to 10, 2025. This session is being held under the theme: “Air transport as a tool for West African integration: Strategy for reducing airfare costs.”
In her opening address, H.E. Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima, President of the ECOWAS Parliament, praised Togo’s unwavering support for regional institutions, notably acknowledging President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, who was designated by his peers as the Champion of Africa’s Single Air Transport Market (SAATM). She thanked the Togolese authorities and the people of Lomé for their hospitality and logistical support for the session.
The ECOWAS Parliament President emphasized the urgent need to make air travel more affordable within the region. She warned that the high cost of flights continues to hamper the free movement of people and undermines efforts toward deeper economic integration.
“Air transport is a crucial driver of economic growth, trade, tourism, and people-to-people connectivity. Yet in West Africa, airfare remains prohibitively expensive due to excessive taxes, fees, and the fragmented nature of the market,” she stated.
She referenced recent decisions taken by the ECOWAS Heads of State during their 66th Ordinary Session in December 2024, which called for reforms such as reduced airport charges, the elimination of non-aviation-related taxes, and the establishment of a unified air safety framework across the region.
President Ibrahima urged fellow lawmakers to leverage their political mandate to propose bold, actionable recommendations that will shape national and regional aviation policies.
“Achieving the goals of ECOWAS Vision 2050 requires a strong commitment to building a competitive, open, and sustainable regional air transport system,” she stressed, expressing confidence that this session would yield tangible outcomes.
The five-day meeting brings together sector experts, public officials, and key regional stakeholders to develop strategies aimed at reducing airfare costs and enhancing aviation-driven regional integration in West Africa.
Olivier ADJA
