General Convention on Privileges and
Immunities of the Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS)
Done at: Lagos
Date enacted: 1978-04-22
In force: 1980-06-05
Whereas paragraph 2 of Article 60 of the Treaty establishing the ECOWAS, hereinafter
referred to as "the Treaty", provides that the Community shall have in the territory of
each Member State the legal capacity required for the performance of its functions;
Whereas paragraph 4 of Article 60 of the Treaty provides that the privileges and
immunities to be granted to the officials of the Community and in Member States shall
be the same as are accorded to diplomatic persons at the Headquarters of the
Community and in the Member States. Similarly, the privileges and immunities granted
to the Secretariat at the Headquarters of the Community shall be the same as granted
to the Diplomatic missions at the Headquarters of the Community and in the Member
States; and
Whereas Article 42 of the Protocol relating to the Fund for Cooperation, Compensation
and Development, hereinafter referred to as the "Fund", provides that the immunities
and privileges to be granted to the officials of the FUND shall be those provided for
under paragraph 4 of Article
Consequently, the High Contracting Parties have adopted the following Convention.
Article 1
Definitions
In this Convention, the following expressions shall have the meanings assigned to them
hereunder:
a.
the "Treaty" means the Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States;
b.
the "Community" means the Economic Community of West African States and it
Includes the Fund for Co-operation, Compensation and Development and all other
institutions as defined in Article 4 of the Treaty.
c.
"Fund" means the Fund for Co-operation, Compensation and Development as
established under Article 50 of the Treaty.
d.
"Community Officials" means an Official entitled to the privileges and immunities
stated in this Convention;