ECOWAS Records 4.6% Growth in 2025, Targets 5% in 2026 — Touray

President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, says the regional bloc recorded an economic growth rate of 4.6 per cent in 2025 despite global economic headwinds, and is projecting a stronger 5 per cent growth in 2026.
Touray disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a meeting with development partners while presenting highlights of the Commission’s 2025 Annual Report. He said ECOWAS outperformed the continental average last year, driven by structural reforms, increased investment in mining and energy, improved regional trade facilitation, and a strong rebound in services, transport and tourism.
He noted that inflation, though still high in some member states, had eased in others due to coordinated monetary policies and improved food supply, while fiscal deficits narrowed as governments boosted revenue mobilisation and rationalised spending. According to him, the region’s debt-to-GDP ratio declined modestly, supported by