The major problem of the ECOWAS is lack of _______

Analyzing the question

The question asks for the major problem facing ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States, founded in 1975 in Lagos). It wants the single biggest obstacle to the organisation achieving its goals.

The concept

ECOWAS aims at economic integration of West Africa: free movement of people, free trade, a common market, and eventually a single currency. Over the years, it has faced several challenges:

• Political instability and coups
• Multiple languages and colonial backgrounds (Anglophone, Francophone, Lusophone)
• Overlapping membership in other bodies (e.g., WAEMU/UEMOA)
• Poor implementation of agreed protocols
• Unequal economic strength among members

Evaluating the options

• A. Uniform ideology: Ideological differences exist, but ECOWAS is an economic body and does not require a uniform ideology to function. It is not the main problem.
• B. Commitment by members: Member states often sign treaties and protocols (free movement, trade liberalisation, the Eco currency plan) but fail to implement them. Border closures, illegal checkpoints, and delayed ratification are examples. This is widely cited as the core weakness.
• C. Common customs union: ECOWAS has a Common External Tariff (adopted 2015), so a customs union framework exists. The issue is implementation, not absence.
• D. Common currency: This is an unfulfilled goal (the Eco), but it is a result of weak commitment, not the root problem.

Answer

The root cause of ECOWAS's difficulties is that members do not fully commit to or implement the decisions they agree on.

Exam tip: In questions on "major problem" of regional organisations (ECOWAS, AU, OPEC), the answer is often lack of commitment/political will by members. The other options usually describe symptoms or specific gaps.