Ghana has been selected as the venue for the Extra Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, scheduled for September 2023 in Winneba, demonstrating the commitment to bringing parliamentary activities closer to the people.
This is in line with the sub-regional integration efforts aimed at enhancing governance accessibility to the populace.
This will mark the second time that Ghana hosts the ECOWAS Parliament, an assembly that convenes twice a year, fostering regional cooperation and collaboration among member states.
The 2023 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament was officially inaugurated on Monday, May 8, 2023, in Abuja, in accordance with Article 21.1 of the Supplementary Act focusing on enhancing the powers of the ECOWAS Parliament. This act mandates the Parliament to convene twice a year for Ordinary Sessions, serving as a crucial platform for in-depth discussions and strengthening the collective stance of Member States on matters of regional and continental significance.
The session, which lasted until Friday, May 26, 2023, also aligned with Article 32 of the supplementary Act, enabling the President of the ECOWAS Commission to present a comprehensive report on the progress made in implementing the Community Work Programme to the Plenary. This report offers valuable insights into the initiatives and efforts undertaken by the Community towards regional integration and development, fostering cooperation and collaboration among the ECOWAS member nations.
Through this, the House is kept up-to-date on Community developments, and opinions and recommendations are expressed.
Delegates also have the opportunity to present their country’s reports to inform the Body of developments in their respective Member States and the progress made in implementing the texts of their community.
After a joint delocalized meeting, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the head of the Ghanaian delegation, contacted the media in Monrovia.
He explained that the Conference being hosted out of the capital would bring governance to the doorsteps of the people and create an opportunity for the region by way of putting it on the visibility map for development.
“This will also allow Member States not only to connect to build consensus towards ECOWAS Development but also an opportunity to travel outside the capital city to familiarise themselves with neighbour countries,” he said.
Mr Afenyo-Markin, also the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament and a Member of the ECOWAS Parliament, further told Journalists that international programmes created opportunities for growth, development and tourism; and Winneba being the capital of one of the Municipalities in the Central Region was more than ready to welcome the ECOWAS delegation.
According to him, the Session would also market the region, the Effutu Constituency and the city which was a coastal city for greater opportunities.
He maintained that such Sessions projected facilities towards development and urged his colleagues to push for more opportunities and take advantage of such possibilities.
“We cannot always over-concentrate in the capital cities; we need to move out and spread opportunity to the people,” he said.
The Effutu NPP Member of Parliament (MP), told Journalists from Member that this will not be the first of its kind, particularly when Winneba 2021 successfully hosted a delocalised meeting and an Extra Ordinary Session, and therefore a precedent had been set.
… “We are optimistic that this will be better than before. The Ghanaian government will put in place the necessary protocols for all MPs, focal persons and staff, security arrangements will be in place. Winneba, which is the capital of my constituency, is just an hour’s drive from Accra on a good road,” he said.
Mr Afenyo-Markin noted that Members were already used to that route with facilities going to be there to host them, adding “As I did indicate, we hope to make it a pleasurable time, profitable time for all; we encourage all of you to come and take part in the programme,” he said.