The New Eco West African Currency Expected to Launch in 2020

The new West African currency, Eco, which is expected to be adopted by 8 West African countries immediately on launch is expected to roll off in 2020.

The 8 ECOWAS countries already using the African Franc, CFA Franc, will automatically start using the Eco. However, up to 15 more West African countries are expected to join the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) currency with Ghana already expressing interest in joining the club.

Today, the West African CFA is used in the following countries:

  • Benin
  • Burkina Faso
  • Guinea Bissau
  • Ivory Coast
  • Mali
  • Niger
  • Senegal
  • Togo

The Central African CFA is used in the following countries:

ALSO READ: 54 Out of 55 African Countries Officially Sign the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement

Ghana’s president has already said that the nation is determined to do what it takes to soon join member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union in the use of the new single currency, the Eco and ditch the Cedi.

While Ghana is the largest economy looking to Francophone Eco, Nigeria is the largest economy in West Africa, and luring the biggest economy will be crucial to see this new currency get widespread African adoption.

Before the Eco can be adopted, the ECOWAS member states have identified 3 criteria that must be satisfied before it can be adopted:

  • Inflation rate of less than 5%
  • Budget deficit of less than 3% GDP
  • Foreign reserves covering more than 3 months worth of imports

So far, no one member state has managed to satisfy all 3 of the above criteria.

A West African currency is key and crucial to boosting intra-African trade which currently stands at 17% compared to 69% in Asia and 69% in Europe.

2019 was instrumental when 54 out of 55 African countries officially signed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement that will see intra-regional trade in Africa grow. The new Eco currency is expected to further drive this bigger African dream.

 

 

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