Sovereignty Versus Supranationality: The ECOWAS Conundrum

Abstract

The formation of any regional (supranational), body requires the surrender of a measure of sovereignty for the purpose of making the body sturdy and effective. ECOWAS member States have since its inception, demonstrated a noted reluctance to become fully committed to the tenets of the ECOWAS. They are still hanging on in a prehensile manner to their respective national laws, regulations and practices, leaving ECOWAS without any real grip on the organisation. This has left ECOWAS weak, (almost comatose), and unable to deliver on the great promises it made during its inauguration. These are the issues that this paper incisively analyses.