The Role of the West African Police Information System and the Security of the Sub-Region

Abstract

This study investigates the function that the West African Police Information System
(WAPIS) plays in bringing together the security and law enforcement agencies in the
region to establish a strategy to combat crime and insecurity in West Africa. The paper
describes the collaborative efforts they have made over time to make the ECOWAS
region a safer place to live. In addition, it describes the state of criminal data
management in the region prior to the WAPIS programme establishment. A qualitative
method of investigation was used in this study through a case study of the organizational
and policy framework of WAPIS to collect and organize data for this study. The study
applies historical and document analytical approaches. The functionalist theory was
used as the study's theoretical framework. Thus, the paper examines the significance of
WAPIS to law enforcement organizations throughout West Africa and beyond. The
WAPIS Programme's benefits are the article's focus, which concludes with some
suggestions.