The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. S.K. Bagbin, has called for urgent and collective action to eliminate language barriers that have impeded socioeconomic growth within the West African sub-region.
He noted that while linguistic diversity in West Africa is culturally enriching, it often poses significant challenges to effective communication and collaboration among member states.
“Language should be a bridge, not a barrier,” he emphasized.
Speaker Bagbin made this appeal during a courtesy call by the Heads of the National Boundary Commissions of West Africa, led by Major General Emmanuel Kotia, Commissioner General of the Ghana Boundary Commission, in Parliament on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
The visit was part of the group’s inaugural meeting in Accra, aimed at establishing mechanisms for better implementation of border governance strategies within the ECOWAS Region.
The Speaker also addressed the issue of the unfair presentation of Africa’s size and its various countries. He pointed out that some African countries are larger than Europe and that addressing these misconceptions could enhance the continent’s global projection.
Speaker Bagbin found the meeting of the Heads of National Boundary Commissions of West Africa significant in tackling these challenges and called for broader collaboration and partnership.
He assured the Commission of Parliament’s support, particularly in the area of legislation, to ensure the success of their efforts.