Make ECOWAS integration people-centred – Minority Leader

The Minority Leader of Parliament, Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to adopt a stronger people-centred approach to regional integration to ensure that its benefits are directly felt by citizens across the sub-region.

He said the success of regional integration should not be measured only by treaties, protocols and meetings, but also by the opportunities created for young people, the ease of movement of citizens and businesses across borders, and the collective ability of member states to address challenges confronting the sub-region.

“Regional integration must be understood beyond treaties, protocols, and meetings. A true value of regional integration might be felt in our communities, in the opportunities available for our young people, in the movement of our citizens and businesses across borders and in our collective ability to respond to challenges that no member state can successfully confront alone,” Mr Afenyo-Markin stressed.

Mr Afenyo-Markin, who is also the Third Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, made the call at the ongoing Second ECOWAS Parliamentary Seminar in Accra yesterday.

The occasion also marked the conclusion of his tenure as the leader of Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament.

Reflecting on his tenure, Mr Afenyo-Markin said his experience had strengthened his conviction that the regional body needed to engage more directly with the people it represented.

He said such engagement would enable members of the ECOWAS Parliament to better understand the concerns and aspirations of citizens across member states.

He commended the ECOWAS Parliament for taking its activities beyond national capitals to other parts of the sub-region, including Winneba, the constituency he represented.

“Our traditional authorities, the University of Education, Winneba, young people, businesses and the wider community had the opportunity to encounter ECOWAS directly and to participate in their own way in the regional integration,” Mr Afenyo-Markin said.

“I am particularly pleased that the idea of taking major Parliament activities beyond national capitals continues to find expression elsewhere. We have seen Parliament convene in Kano, Port Harcourt, and we look towards Bayelsa as the tradition continues,” he added.

Mr Afenyo-Markin expressed confidence that Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, under the leadership of Mr George Kwaku Ricketts-Hagan, would continue to make meaningful contributions to the work of the House towards advancing a more integrated, peaceful and prosperous West Africa.

He said Mr Ricketts-Hagan had the experience required to lead Ghana’s delegation and was committed to parliamentary diplomacy and the promotion of regional integration.

Mr Afenyo-Markin pledged to continue working with members of the ECOWAS Parliament to advance the objectives of the regional legislature in his capacity as the Third Deputy Speaker of the House.

BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY

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