Liberia to Host 41st ECOWAS Brown Card Assembly to Strengthen Regional Cooperation

Monrovia — Liberia is preparing to host the 41st General Assembly of the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme — a landmark event highlighting the nation’s dedication to advancing regional integration and safe cross-border mobility within West Africa.

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By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway

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Scheduled for November 24–27, 2025, the Assembly will take place under the theme: “ECOWAS at 50 and Sub-Regional Integration: Defining the Governance Structure of the Brown Card Insurance Scheme.” The gathering will attract delegates from ECOWAS member states, government officials and insurance industry leaders to discuss the future of cross-border motor insurance and cooperation.

The ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme ensures fair and timely compensation for victims of road accidents involving foreign-registered vehicles within member countries. It provides third-party motor insurance coverage for motorists traveling across borders, fostering both safety and ease of movement throughout the sub-region.

Explaining the background of the initiative, Shar Kaba, Secretary General of the ECOWAS Brown Card National Bureau of Liberia, said the scheme was introduced to simplify cross-border trade and protect travelers. Before its creation, traders and drivers faced serious challenges moving goods across neighboring countries. To resolve these issues, West African Heads of State established the Brown Card Scheme (BRANCA) in Cotonou, Benin, on May 29, 1982, with Liberia’s then-President, Samuel K. Doe, among the participants.

Patterned after similar regional models — the Green Card in Europe and the Yellow Card in East Africa — the Brown Card became ECOWAS’s official vehicle insurance emblem. The protocol establishing the system, AP/1/5/82, was later ratified by Liberia under Article 95(b) of the 1986 Constitution, making it legally binding in the country.

Mr. Kaba noted that the Brown Card builds upon Liberia’s local motor insurance system, first launched in 1978, and extends its protection to all ECOWAS states, ensuring motorists are consistently insured when crossing borders.

Meanwhile, Mr. Wilfred Kwasi Dodzih, Permanent Secretary General of the ECOWAS Brown Card Scheme, commended Liberia for agreeing to host the 41st General Assembly. He described Liberia’s role as a strong show of support for ECOWAS’s mission of unity, cooperation, and shared prosperity.

According to Mr. Dodzih, the Monrovia Assembly will evaluate past achievements and map out future priorities to enhance the scheme’s impact. He emphasized that the 41st session coincides with ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary, a fitting moment to reflect on five decades of progress in regional integration.

“We consider ECOWAS as one space and one community. Whether you are in Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, or Ghana, the Brown Card guarantees your coverage,” he affirmed. He added that the upcoming meeting will also explore digitalizing the Brown Card system to make claims processing faster and more efficient.

Mr. Nathaniel Chea, Director of Insurance at the Central Bank of Liberia, also underscored the Brown Card’s significance, calling it a key safeguard for both local and foreign motorists. He urged drivers to always demand the Brown Card when purchasing insurance to ensure they are protected during cross-border travel.

“If a vehicle from Guinea or Sierra Leone gets into an accident with you, it’s the Brown Card — not your local insurance — that covers the claim,” he explained. “Without it, you risk being unprotected beyond Liberia’s borders.”

Liberia’s hosting of the 41st ECOWAS Brown Card General Assembly reaffirms the country’s commitment to regional economic development, enhanced insurance collaboration, and the protection of travelers across West Africa.