𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗪𝗔𝗦 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗸𝗮𝗿–𝗔𝗯𝗶𝗱𝗷𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗼𝗿

MONROVIA –The House of Representatives has ratified the ECOWAS Treaty on the Establishment of the Dakar–Abidjan Corridor, marking a significant step toward enhancing regional integration, infrastructure development, and trade facilitation within West Africa.

Plenary’s decision Thursday, July 3, 2025 during its 15th Day sitting of the 2nd Quarter of the 2nd session, followed the presentation of a comprehensive report by the Joint Committee on Transport, Public Works and Rural Development, and Judiciary, which carefully reviewed the provisions of the Treaty and recommended its ratification.

Presenting the report, the Joint Committee called on the indulgence of Plenary to ratify the Treaty, highlighting its potential to boost interconnectivity, economic growth, and cross-border cooperation among ECOWAS member states, including Liberia.

In the course of its review, the Joint Committee also drew attention to the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances, which has been ratified by over 180 countries. While Liberia is a signatory to this Convention, it has not formally ratified the related Protocol.

The Committee stressed the importance of this Protocol in protecting public health, addressing illicit trafficking, and combating the abuse of controlled substances, including cocaine, marijuana, heroin, and nicotine.

The Protocol emphasizes measures for licensing, regulation, and criminalization of unlawful manufacturing and trade in psychotropic substances. It mandates that State Parties treat intentional violations as punishable offences under national laws, ensuring such actions are met with appropriate penalties, including imprisonment.

According to the Committee, ratifying these instruments aligns with Liberia’s national drug policy and supports the broader legislative effort to curb the rising threat of substance abuse across the country.

Following the report and ensuing discussions, Plenary voted in favor of ratifying the ECOWAS Treaty, and the instrument has been forwarded to the Liberian Senate for concurrence.

The ratification signals Liberia’s commitment to both regional integration and the protection of public health and national security through strong legal frameworks.