The Role of the Economic Community of West African States in the Promotion of Democracy and Good Governance in the Sub-continent

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), for some time, has been applauded by the international community as a credible organization for its ability to support intervention and security activities in West Africa, while also managing internal resources for its activities to maintain stability in the subcontinent. To consolidate the liberal ideas of democracy and good governance needed for the desired growth of the sub-region, the group in 2001, introduced an all-important protocol for the promotion and maintenance of democracy and good governance as a tool to curtail the practice of military adventurism in governance. However, the recent military overthrow of constitutional order in three West African countries - Mali (August 2020 and May 2021), Guinea (September 2021), and Burkina Faso (January 2022) - has brought to attention the potency of the sub-continent and its role to promote and consolidate democratic ideals and good governance in West Africa. This paper sought to examine the role of the Economic Community of West African States in the promotion of democracy and good governance, taking into consideration the 2001 Protocol that seeks to enforce democracy and good governance in West Africa. The paper found that there is a lack of definitive and proactive action for deterring member states from breaching the Protocol. It also found that the role of ECOWAS has not been translated to ordinary citizens. It consequently recommended that ECOWAS must address conditions that facilitate coup plotting in West Africa holistically.