Gambian President Adama Barrow says the vision and emphasis of the Community is shifting from an ‘ECOWAS of States’ to an ‘ECOWAS of People’.
“With this in view, all the programmes and activities of the Community should be people-centred. For this reason, it is most fitting for you to evaluate the progress towards ensuring that the People of the Community enjoy and appreciate the benefits of sub-regional integration.”
The Gambian leader made the statement on Thursday at opening of the Parliamentary seminar on the evaluation of Fourth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament with focuses on the implementation of the strategic plan and the supplementary act on the enhancement of powers of the parliament at a local hotel 25km outside Banjul.
He added: “It is best practice to review your performance and results to be accountable to the community you represent. This will justify the investments and resource inputs for your activities, thus making this meeting imperative.”
He said as representatives of the citizens of the sub-region, it is necessary that, at the end of a legislative term, they review and evaluate their performance and the implementation status of the ideals and goals of integrating the economies and peoples of the region, as envisioned by the founding fathers of the Organisation.
President Barrow pointed out that all of these factors are embedded in the spirit of democracy, which is built on the independence of the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary.
“Parliaments in functional democracies enjoy constitutionally guaranteed powers to make laws for good governance. The dynamics of modern democracy now extend the scope and functions of Parliaments to regional bodies seeking to improve integration and cross-border trade among member states,” he said.
He added: “It is worth remembering that ECOWAS is an outcome of the necessity for cooperation and collaboration on socio-economic issues within the sub-region. Consequently, to alleviate the economic challenges that hamper progress, we have to accept and take a strong position in the global economy through technology and innovation. We do realise that research and experimentation in all aspects of human endeavour is a continuous process.”
According to President Barrow, over the years, ECOWAS has recorded noticeable milestones; but, irrespective of the achievements registered, it is obligatory to examine the challenges confronting the Community and its institutions.
He said, “It is for this reason that your decision to review the Fourth Legislature of the Parliament is fundamental.”
He pointed out that the revised ECOWAS Treaty of 1993 and the volume of other protocols, conventions and agreements show that Member States obviously have an understanding of the pathway to regional economic integration, adding that for instance, there is a clear understanding of the role of trade, infrastructure, private sector participation, free movement of goods, services and people within the Community.
“As you take stock of the prospects and challenges of the ECOWAS Parliament, it is wise to remember also that the activities of ECOWAS transcend borders, institutions and interest groups. The external and internal environment will continue to change, hence the need to innovate and transform our institutions to serve the Community better,” President told ECOWAS lawmakers.
He further stressed that peace and security continue to be the basis for sustainable development; thus, considerable policy improvements and implementation frameworks stand to enhance peace, security and socio-economic development in the region.
He commended the lawmakers for their tremendous strides made during the last four years to use the ECOWAS Parliament to mediate and find solutions to the many security challenges that exist in the sub-region.
“The Authority of Heads of State of ECOWAS has noted, with deep appreciation, the various missions of ECOWAS Parliamentarians to various hotspots to initiate dialogue between the contending parties there.
The objectives of those missions were genuine efforts to end the conflict and insecurity in those countries.
“We acknowledge your attempts to redeem our destitute youths held in deplorable camps. We are saddened by the dangerous journeys such youths undertake to Europe through the Desert and the Mediterranean Sea,” he said.
President Barrow said part of the solution to this issue lies in education, job creation and training for technical and entrepreneurial skill acquisition and application.
He assure the lawmakers that their efforts are immensely appreciated, saying that they are contributing to the measures adopted by the Authority of Heads of State for sustained political stability, peace and security in the sub-region.
“The promotion of dialogue as a means of conflict resolution, and the respect for the fundamental principle of good governance, are some of the principles that need to be entrenched, thereby promoting the agenda of an integrated ECOWAS of People,” President Barrow told ECOWAS Parliamentarians.
According to him, institutional capacity is another major driver of regional integration, pointing that all processes relating to the improvement of the governance systems of the ECOWAS institutions should be oriented towards efficient management of regional cooperation and integration programmes.
“We must put a sharper focus on implementing the ECOWAS protocols. We remain hopeful that, as a platform for dialogue, consultation and consensus building, and as representatives of the Peoples of West Africa, your advocacy will continue to put emphasis on issues that matter most for the collective wellbeing of all citizens,” he noted.
He urged other ECOWAS institutions to draw inspiration from the work of the Parliament in the drive to reviewing and evaluating the scope and mandate of their operations.