In a major step toward facilitating seamless regional trade, the ECOWAS Commission has concluded a five-day technical mission to Ghana aimed at deploying the SIGMAT system for improved goods transit between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
The mission, which took place is part of broader ECOWAS transit reforms designed to strengthen cross-border trade and reduce delays across the Abidjan–Lagos Corridor.
SIGMAT, or Système Interconnecté de Gestion des Marchandises en Transit, is an electronic data-sharing platform that allows for real-time exchange of transit information between member states. Since its introduction in 2019, countries that have implemented the system have reported increased efficiency and transparency in transit procedures.
Following a directive by ECOWAS Ministers during their October 2023 meeting in Cotonou, the Commission committed to accelerating SIGMAT deployment across all five countries along the Abidjan–Lagos Corridor.
In Accra, ECOWAS technical and functional experts met with counterparts from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to resolve lingering interconnection issues affecting system deployment. The goal is to ensure full operationalization of SIGMAT between the two countries, enhancing the flow of goods and reducing transit-related fraud.
Speaking on behalf of ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Director of Customs Union and Taxation, Mr. Salifou Tiemtore, reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting national customs services in implementing SIGMAT across trade corridors.
The Commissioner of Customs for Ghana, Brigadier General Glover Ashong Annan, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a crucial step toward securing regional trade and increasing revenue generation by addressing fraud risks associated with goods transit.
At the conclusion of the mission, both countries reported significant progress, with key technical and functional barriers resolved. The successful collaboration marks a critical step toward harmonizing customs procedures and advancing regional economic integration in West Africa.
