Veep Opens ECOWAS Parliament

Ghana’s Vice President, John Dramani Mahama has identified unofficial check points as a major hindrance to achieving a sub-regional integration and called for a holistic approach in dealing with the problem.

According to him, African sub-regional integration can be achieved if such checkpoints and barriers on inter-country highways are removed.

The Vice President  who made this known at the opening ceremony of the ECOWAS Parliamentary seminar in Accra yesterday, call on member countries  to map out strategies to deal with the problem to ensure Africa’s integration.

The seminar which is on the theme: “The Role of the ECOWAS Parliament in the West Africa Integration Process.” will focus on how to improve trade along the borders of member countries.

He noted that attempts to achieve integration in the sub-region are more than three decades old and charged member countries to renew their commitment to the integration agenda

Mr Mahama, noted that a survey carried out by West African Trade Hub quarterly, revealed there are 17 controls on every 100 kilometres stretch of highway and an average of $54 paid in bribes and about 55 minutes spent per control point.

He called on Nigeria to exert its influence and leadership as the largest and most populated in the sub region to champion the integration agenda.

The Vice President said the protocol that allows 90 days visa free movement of people between countries in the sub-region has been implemented but is not functional, adding when “immigration officers at the borders of fellow West African neighbour  still maintain the discretion to decide how long one can stay in the particular country”.

He said ECOWAS Parliament has a distinct and unique position in the entrenchment of the ideals of integration and observed  that by the advancement of the sub-regional Parliament to the next level of its evolution “we will promote the integration process and enhance further participation of the people in the process”.

Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo in an address, stressed the need for ECOWAS states to create synergies in place of rivalries and commit to the course of accelerated sub-regional integration.

She noted that Member countries “undoubtedly have an arduous task in talking and walking the people through the quest for integration,” adding that they cannot afford to fail.

The seminar which begun on February 27 runs till March 7 and is expected to bring together personalities from the sub-region’s parliament as well as the Speakers of the national parliaments of

ECOWAS member states.

Topics to be discussed include; The Role and Functions of ECOWAS Institutions, National Parliament verses Regional Parliament-Any Complementaries, National Parliament as a vehicle towards promoting West Africa Integration, The meaning of Economic Integration-the ECOWAS Example, The role of ECOWAS Parliament in the West Africa Integration Process among others.

ISD