Accra - Ghana — Stakeholders of BORDERLESS Alliance, a public-private initiative which promotes the vision of a borderless West Africa for increased trade, have resolved to intensify advocacy within the private and public sectors for free movement of persons, goods and services in the region, a key objective of the ECOWAS flagship protocol.

According to a communiqué at the end of their meeting in Accra, Ghana on 30th May 2011, the stakeholders agreed to establish an interim Executive Committee charged with responsibility of formalizing the Alliance with the free movement advocacy mandate among others.

The Committee should also provide best practices for conducting business in West Africa as regards transport and logistics; develop a programme and associated funding strategy; and hold regular meetings to report on progress It should ensure the registration of the BORDERLESS Alliance with a defined operational structure and membership categories and fees. In the interim, the meeting agreed that the West Africa Trade Hub shall host the Secretariat of the BORDERLESS Alliance in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission and the civil society. The West Africa Trade Hub is a U.S.

Agency of International Development (USAID) project implemented by CARANA Corporation, a consulting firm that designs, directs, and delivers economic growth strategies to government, private business and international donor agencies, particularly the USAID.

The stakeholders at the Accra meeting also committed to raise awareness, and to use BORDERLESS to remind stakeholders of the vision and provide access to reliable information.