Table 2.1: Status of Ratification of the ECOWAS Revised Treaties, Protocols and Conventions Country Ghana Togo Sierra Leone Mali Senegal Gambia Nigeria Burkina Faso Guinea Niger Benin Cote d’Ivoire Liberia Guinea Bissau Cape Verde Number of protocols & conventions signed from 1978 to 31 March 2010 53 53 53 53 53 53 53 53 53 53 53 53 53 51 50 Number of protocols & conventions ratified as at March 10, 2010 43 43 42 42 42 41 40 40 38 38 38 29 25 24 24 Source: ECOWAS Commission, Abuja, March 2010 OBJECTIVE 1: ENTRENCHING CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW This objective assesses the constitutionally established provisions which enable citizens to enjoy their rights of freedom of membership of political associations of their choosing and the free participation of these political groups in an open political competition. The objective also assesses the degree to which all individuals are subject to and treated equally according to the law, and that no one is exposed to arbitrary treatment by the state. 2.2 POLITICAL SYSTEM 2.2.1 Freedom of Association Sixth Annual APRM Progress Report: January – December 2011 5