MPs unveil ECOWAS Parliament to Ghanaians

By Ebenezer Hanson

Although established some 15 years ago, the ECOWAS Parliament has largely remained one of an esoteric entity known only to active politicians and a relatively few political initiates. A cross-section of Ghanaians admits in an interview with the Public Agenda that they are unaware of the existence of such a core governance institution of the West African sub region.

It was for these and other pertinent considerations that informed Ghanaian Members of the ECOWAS Parliament to initiate steps to demystify the Community legislature to Ghanaians by unveiling its vision, mission, achievements and particularly plans to enhance grassroots participation in the election of representatives to the Parliament through universal adult suffrage in all member states.

Hon. Stephen Balado Manu, leader of the eight-member Ghanaian team of the ECOWAS Parliament, responding to questions at a news conference, revealed that through its unsung activities, the Community Parliament contributed substantial input in achieving peace between the feuding parties in countries such as Sierra Leone and Cote d’Ivoire; through its timely intervention it defused the looming crisis in the recent Guinea Bissau.

He said by sending teams to monitor and observe elections, the ECOWAS Parliament has contributed to ensuring peaceful elections in Togo and Liberia and also helping to resolve post elections dispute in Togo.

Hon. Michael Teye Nyaunu, an ECOWAS Parliamentarian, also disclosed that the Community Parliament contributed immensely to the establishment of the West African Power Pool, and subsequently advocated “the export of power by Nigeria and Ghana to Benin and Togo respectively and thereby forestalling the breakdown of their economies”.

He adds that many of the cross-border problems such as migration within the ECOWAS sub region such as differences in legal and trade regimes are being resolved through the initiative of the ECOWAS Parliament.

Dealing with some of the loose ends in respect of some of the questions, Hon. Elizabeth Sackey, another ECOWAS Parliamentarian recalled that the Community Parliamentarian was actively involved in impressing upon Nigeria to rescind its decision regarding the importation of certain products from Ghana. “We have done a lot but all these were not in the public domain”.

Addressing the news conference Hon. Manu disclosed that the ECOWAS Parliament, which has been operating in an advisory capacity, consists 120 seats. Each member state has a minimum of five seats. The remaining seats are then shared on the basis of population. Consequently, Nigeria has 35 seats, Ghana eight, Cote D’Ivoire seven, while Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, have seats each. The others, Benin, Cape Verde, the Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Togo have five seats.

He said the current Parliament which is in transition at present, functions in advisory capacity. This means that it does not as of now, have legislative powers and its members are not directly elected. Representatives are elected by their National Parliaments to the Community Parliament.

“Notwithstanding these limitations, the ECOWAS Parliamentarian is empowered to consider issues concerning human rights and fundamental freedoms of citizens, interconnection of energy networks, interconnection of communication links between member states, increased co-operation in the area of radio, television and other intra and inter community media links. The ECOWAS Parliament is also consulted on matters relating to the public health policies for the community, common educational policy through harmonization of existing laws,” he clarified.

Hon. Manu revealed that, come 2010 Parliamentarians who will serve at ECOWAS Parliament will be elected individually on their merit. “Polls will be conducted in a manner similar to that of National General Elections and those who will emerge victorious will then become bonafide members of the ECOWAS Parliament for a specific term,” he expatiated.

He said the electoral bodies of respective countries would be responsible for the delineation of national constituencies and at least 30% representation would be reserved for gender considerations.

The other Ghanaian ECOWAS Parliamentarians include Hon. Francis Aggrey Agbotse, Hon. Ken Ohene Agyapong, Hon. John Tia, Hon. David Apasera and Hon. Simon Osei Mensah.