The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Biometric Identity Card will go into force in 2016, representing another milestone in the march to regional integration, through unfettered movement of Community citizens, the ECOWAS Commission has said.
A Communiqué issued at the end of the 73rd Ordinary session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, in Abuja on Friday, stated that the document will replace the travel certificate currently in use.
It explained that the new Biometric Identity Card is to circulate alongside the National Identity Card in each member state for a period of time until the institutionalization of the new document within a specified time frame.
The Commission stated that the ministers, after considering the report of regional Heads of Immigration Services on the use of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card, endorsed the new document for the approval of the Authority of Heads of State and Government scheduled to meet in Abuja on Monday.
The Council also considered the 2014 Annual Report of the ECOWAS Commission President, Kadré Ouédraogo, which provided positive growth forecasts with economic activity put at 5.3 percent in 2014 compared to 4.8 per cent in 2013.
“The ECOWAS region continues to be Africa’s most dynamic regional Economic Community with expected growth rate of 6.3% in 2014, with Côte d’Ivoire expected to record the highest growth rate of 9.1 per cent in the region,” the President said.
