The statutes stipulate that the aims and objectives of the Association shall be to:

1.... maintain and foster relations between the constituent Episcopal Conferences "in order to promote and safeguard their higher welfare' (Vatican II, Christus Dominus 38.5; canon 459.1).
2.... establish fraternal and useful relations between the Episcopal Conferences through their respective Secretariats, by amongst others.

communicating the principal decisions, especially in pastoral life and action, sending texts or reports of the decisions of the Conferences or the Acts and documents issued by the bishops either individually or collectively, reporting the various apostolic enterprises proposed by the Episcopal Conferences which could be of use in similar circumstances,
proposing those questions of grave import which, in our times and in particular circumstances, seem of the greatest importance,
indicating the dangers making grounds in their own country which might also creep into other nations, so that suitable means should be taken in good time to prevent, remove or confine them. (cf. Motu Proporio "Ecclesiae Sanctae" 1.41.5).

3. ... serve as the co-ordinating agency for studies of common interest and for forms of collaboration within the constituent Episcopal Conferences and with other bodies (cf. Motu Proporio "Ecclesiae Sanctae"1.41.5)

In line with one of the main aims of the Association, that is, to enable the Bishops of the West African Anglophone Sub-region deliberate and take decisions on the topics and issues of mutual interest and importance, the Association devotes Plenary Assemblies to the discussion of some significant topics. That was why in 1986, the topic was Christian-Muslim dialogue in our sub-region. The 1995 Plenary Assembly was devoted to Human Rights in West Africa. At the 8th Plenary Assembly, members discussed the topic, A Self-Reliant Church.

As we and our brother Bishops of French-speaking West Africa, in fact, occupy the same sub-region and have the same concerns, we are trying to forge a closer link between AECAWA and their Association, Conference Episcopale Regionale de L'Africa Occidental (CERAO). To this end, a joint Plenary Assembly of the two sister Episcopal Associations is scheduled to take place in Burkina Faso between the 16th and 19th November 2000.