The Heads of State of member countries in the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) are expected to meet over issues concerning the sub-region’s proposed single currency, the Eco.

This follows a recommendation for same after an extra-ordinary meeting involving Finance Ministers and Governors of central banks of member states of the WAMZ - the Anglophone monetary blog - on Thursday.

The Ministers and Governors have asked their bosses, the Heads of State to meet following the announcement by Côte d'Ivoire leader, Alassane Ouattara the French-speaking countries are switching from the CFA to Eco in 2020.

A statement from the WAMZ meeting of the Finance Ministers and Governors described the decision as “unilateral.”

“WAMZ Convergence Council reiterates the importance for all ECOWAS member countries to adhere to the decisions of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government towards the execution of the revised roadmap of the ECOWAS single currency programme,” the statement said.

They recommended an extra-ordinary summit of the Heads of State and Governments of WAMZ to “further discuss this matter and other related issues.”

The ECOWAS single currency when issued, would replace local currencies of all member states in a bid to consolidate the single market aspirations of the sub-region.

Issues relating but not limited to benchmarks that have to be met by each member state before the currency is issued have caused its delay for some two decades.