Abstract: This paper explores the political and economic factors that have hindered the realization of the ECO currency, West Africa proposed common monetary unit, despite five decades of regional integration efforts under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Though the ECO was regarded as a critical phase toward greater economic convergence, trade facilitation, and regional autonomy, its frequent postponement reflects complex challenges at the intersection of national interests, institutional readiness, and macroeconomic disparities among the member nations. From official ECOWAS reports, convergence criteria assessments, and regional political alignments, this study emphasizes the role of anchor economies (especially Nigeria and CFA-franc zone), the role of outside agents such as France and the EU, and internal inflation divergences, fiscal prudence, and political compliance. The paper argument is that beyond technical hurdles, the ECO project is a case study of the limits of supranational ambition without political consensus and economic harmonization. By way of an analysis of these structural impediments, the paper draws out observations on the bigger prospects for regional monetary integration in Africa.