By: Joseph N. Kerkula
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in collaboration with its development partners, has officially launched the SIGMAT Program in Monrovia. The initiative aims to strengthen trade facilitation and regional integration among Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire by providing a fast, accessible, and reliable platform for cross-border business transactions.
The Single Interconnected Goods and Transit Management System (SIGMAT) is a regional digital platform designed to simplify customs and trade processes within ECOWAS member states. It seeks to reduce bottlenecks, improve transparency, and enhance the efficiency of goods movement across borders, thereby promoting economic growth and regional cooperation.
Speaking during the official launch, Ambassador Josephine Nkrumah, ECOWAS Resident Representative to Liberia, emphasized the importance of national ownership and collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the success of the program.
According to Ambassador Nkrumah, It is essential for countries to take ownership of this instrument. “By owning it, we demonstrate commitment to its efficiency and ensure that the objectives for which it was created are fully realized. Achieving this requires the combined efforts of public institutions and key players in the private sector.”
She further underscored the need for continuous dialogue between the public and private sectors to sustain the implementation process, monitor progress, and address challenges that may arise.
Ambassador Nkrumah revealed that five ECOWAS member states are currently implementing SIGMAT and that the program has received positive feedback from participants. She noted that the system was specifically developed to streamline transit trade and eliminate burdensome manual procedures that contradict the spirit of regional integration.
This burdensome practice runs counter to ECOWAS’ trade protocols, which are meant to give traders free access and mobility within the region,” she said. “SIGMAT is therefore an important tool to ease trade, strengthen regional unity, and empower local entrepreneurs.”
Ambassador Nkrumah disclosed that customs officers in participating countries have undergone specialized training to effectively operate the SIGMAT application and ensure smooth trade facilitation. The system is expected to reduce delays at border posts, enhance transparency, and foster stronger economic ties among ECOWAS member countries.
Speaking on behalf of the Liberian Government, Hon. Wilmot A. Reeves, Deputy Minister for Commerce and Trade at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, praised ECOWAS and its partners for introducing the SIGMAT platform.
“This initiative aligns perfectly with the Government of Liberia’s development agenda and our vision to promote economic diversification and regional competitiveness,” Minister Reeves said. “For Liberia to benefit, we must deepen our commitment to ECOWAS Trade Liberalization and actively participate in inter-regional trade.”
He assured that Liberia remains committed to implementing the system effectively and called on customs authorities, businesses, and trade practitioners to embrace the change for greater efficiency.
The Monrovia launch brought together representatives from Guinea, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and development partners including GIZ, the the Liberia Revenue Authority ( LRA ) and other regional trade actors.
The successful implementation of the SIGMAT initiative is seen as a crucial step toward realizing ECOWAS’ broader goal of creating a seamless, unified regional market that supports business growth, job creation, and sustainable development across West Africa.
