Mechanism to promote free movement of people launched in Benin
Xinhua, September 24, 2015 Adjust font size:
A mechanism to promote free movement of people and end extortion on roads within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was officially launched on Wednesday in Cotonou, Benin's commercial capital.
The mechanism aims to end all sorts of harassment and corruption that make regional states lose billions of CFA Francs annually, and hinder sustainable development in the sub-region, said ECOWAS' Director for Free Movement and Tourism Sano Fally.
Jointly funded by the European Union and the ECOWAS Commission, the mechanism that will be operational in Benin, will involve police, customs authorities as well as transporters in order to facilitate movement of their vehicles on inter-state roads within the ECOWAS region.
"It is an innovative tool that we are experimenting in the community zone and it will allow all concerned authorities to carry out joint checks at various stations," Fally said.
He urged the security agencies, transporters and the population to embrace the mechanism to enable it yield the desired results. Enditem