General Information

M. Dodzih KWASI, Permanent General Secretary, Council of Bureaux /

Welcome Dear subscribers,

The ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme was established by Protocol A/P1/5/82 signed by the Head of States and Governments of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), on 29th may 1982 in Cotonou, People’s Republic of Benin.

The main objective of the Scheme is to ensure prompt and fair compensation to the victims of road accidents for the damages caused them by non residing motorists travelling from other ECOWAS member States to their country. In Europe, Green Card is a similar scheme implemented in 1953.

The ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme was established by Protocol A/P1/5/82 signed by the Head of States and Governments of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), on 29th may 1982 in Cotonou, People’s Republic of Benin.

The main objective of the Scheme is to ensure prompt and fair compensation to the victims of road accidents for the damages caused them by non residing motorists travelling from other ECOWAS member States to their country. In Europe, Green Card is a similar scheme implemented in 1953.

The ECOWAS Brown Card Scheme operates through a 14 (fourteen) National Bureaux network spread throughout the fourteen Member States. Each National Bureau plays two (2) major roles.

  • To ensure Brown Card availability for local motorists : National Bureau operates therefore as an Issuing Bureau.
  • To conduct investigation and settle claims arising from an accident caused by motorist holders of Brown Card. It then acts as a Handling Bureau.