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Outline:. Introduction. WAMA: Established in 1992 by the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government (Per Decision A/DEC./7/92) A specialised autonomous body of ECOWAS, concerned with monetary Integration and payments arrangement. Introduction (contd.).
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Introduction • WAMA: Established in 1992 by the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government (Per Decision A/DEC./7/92) • A specialised autonomous body of ECOWAS, concerned with monetary Integration and payments arrangement
Introduction (contd.) • Through a transformation from West African Clearing House (WACH) • Why was the transformation necessary? • The transformation had become necessary following: • the adoption of the ECOWAS Monetary Cooperation Programme (EMCP) in 1987; and • the need for an entity to handle the implementation of this Programme in addition to the multilateral payments related issues; • WACH originally established in 1975:- • to provide a mechanism through which members could use their domestic currencies for current and capital account transactions within the West African region; • The objective had been to encourage intra-regional trade and help member countries to economize on the use of foreign exchange.
Introduction (contd.) • Membership comprises the eight central banks of ECOWAS Member States: • Bank of Cape Verde • Central Bank of The Gambia • Bank of Ghana • Central Bank of the Republic of Guinea • Central Bank of Liberia • Central Bank of Nigeria • Bank of Sierra Leone • BCEAO (the common Central Bank of the eight countries of UEMOA) • Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo
Introduction (contd.) • OBJECTIVES • promote trade and financial transactions; • encourage exchange rate liberalization among member States; • promote monetary cooperation and consultation among member States; • assist member States in the harmonization and coordination of their monetary and fiscal policies; • ensure the monitoring, coordination and implementation of the ECOWAS Monetary Cooperation Program (EMCP); • encourage the pursuit of appropriate macroeconomic policies conducive to market-determined exchange and interest rates; • initiate and promote policies and programmes aimed at achieving monetary integration within the region; and • ensure the establishment of a single monetary zone in West Africa by creating the necessary conditions leading to implementation of uniform monetary policy and creation of a single currency.
STATUS OF CONVERGENCECENTRAL BANK BUDGET DEFICIT FINANCING/TAX REVENUE- ≤ 10%
STATUS OF CONVERGENCECENTRAL BANK BUDGET DEFICIT FINANCING/TAX REVENUE- ≤ 10%
STATUS OF CONVERGENCEGROSS EXTERNAL RESERVES ≥ 6 MONTHS 0F IMPORTS COVER
STATUS OF CONVERGENCEGROSS EXTERNAL RESERVES ≥ 6 MONTHS 0F IMPORTS COVER
Some Policy Harmonisation Measures • Policy Harmonisation in respect of the following: • Monetary Policy Frameworks; • Regulatory and Supervisory frameworks of banks and other financial institutions; • Accounting and Financial Reporting frameworks for banks and non-bank financial institutions, the • Legislations governing current and capital account transactions; and • Balance of payments statistics, etc. • Stabilisation of Exchange Rates/Exchange Rate Mechanism
Conclusions • Bright prospects for the EMCP, despite the challenges • The political authorities are exhibiting a renewed commitment towards speedy implementation of the project; • The implementing institutions are maximizing synergy through enhanced collaboration • Member countries are more than ever determined to accelerate or at least sustain the implementation process; • Considerable progress has been made under the programme: • member countries have stepped up efforts to achieve fiscal consolidation and harmonize their fiscal, monetary and financial policies; • the liberalization of the current and external capital accounts are in progress; • the framework has been laid for the architectural design of the WAMZ project • The economies of UEMOA are converging steadily