Author: Fred GhanaMPs

Government of the Republic of Ghana has welcomed the declaration made by the President of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) His Excellency Alassane Ouattara on the decision by eight (8) West African Member States to discontinue the use of the CFA Franc.

Director of Communications at the Presidency Eugene Arhin in a statement noted that the move in favor of the proposed, new common currency of ECOWAS, the ECO beginning of 2020 is welcome news.

He noted that Ghana sees it as a good testimony to the importance that is being attached not only to the establishment of a monetary union, but also to the larger agenda of West African integration.

“We in Ghana are determined to do whatever we can to enable us join the Member States of UEMOA, soon in the use of the ECO, as we believe it will help remove trade and monetary barriers, reduce transaction costs,  boost economic activity, and raise the living standards of our people”.

The statement further urged other Member States of the Community to work rapidly towards implementing the decisions of the Authorities of ECOWAS, including adopting a flexible exchange rate regime, instituting a federal system for the ECOWAS Central Bank, as well as other related agreed convergence criteria, to ensure that “we” achieve the single currency objectives of ECOWAS as soon as possible for all the Member states.

In addition we have a historic opportunity to create a new reality for the peoples of ECOWAS, a reality of general prosperity and progress, the statement said and urged the Member States to take advantage of the opportunity.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has been urged by head of an international non-governmental organisation from Kenya, Shem Ochola to gather support from other regional blocks to pass protocol to support the human rights of older persons.

According to Shem Ochola, ECOWAS Parliament can help galvanize support from other regional bloc Parliaments like the Southern Africa and East African Parliament to pass the protocol supporting the right of older persons.

He made this remarks on Tuesday the 27th of November, 2019 when a two days workshop jointly organized by the Community Parliament and the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria was brought to an end.

Mr. Shem Ochola head of Network Coordinator and Development Helpage International Kenya, pleaded with lawmakers to help champion the protocol in the sub-region as it needs the political will for it to happen.

“We need to push this agenda seriously, because protecting the right of older persons in some countries within the West African countries is not seen as serious and urgent”.

He noted that it is in the interest of everyone in the sub-region because as lawmakers if God grants them the grace to live beyond sixty years they fall into older persons category, and they should be treated with dignity and respect.

“Most importantly if we see ourselves in that category and in that picture, there is the need for us to fight for the human rights of elderly person, we would provide the technical assistance but we do not have the political power to push this through.

In addition, we are prepared to work with you as you engage your National Parliaments and government. We need progressive legislation and programmes that would address the right of older persons, let us see ourselves in this picture”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Abuja

A member of the Sierra Leone delegation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Veronica K. Sesay has given indications she is prepare to champion passage of protocol for the elderly in Africa when referred to her country for ratification.

According to the sub-regional community lawmaker, talking about protocols of the human right for the elderly is not a controversial issue, because someday somehow, we would all become old.

“If we take it seriously, I would be the first person to champion it. I do not want to waste time on this, let us take this protocol to our various countries and debate it, it would pass like a wild. Most of us in the ECOWAS Parliament are over fifty, if you do not want to take this protocol to your country to be debated, you are a selfish person”, she lamented in an interview.

She made this remarks in the wake of a two days workshop organized by the Community Parliament and the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria, on the theme, “Human Rights Framework and the situation of elderly people in Africa”.

She further lamented over the practice where elderly persons are dumped without care despite the services they have rendered. “They are just abandoned, simple because that person does not have a son or daughter”.

Again, when it is time for them to take their pensions they go through a lot, they are told to go and come and they need to do verification.

“The elderly whether rich or poor should be given attention, the elderly poor person have found him or herself in that situation because of circumstances, we should get qualified nurses to take care of them at aged homes”, she said

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Abuja

Former Nigerian Senator, Dr. Eze Ajoku has expressed regret for not taking advantage twelve years ago to speak for elderly persons whiles in Senate.

He made this remark on Tuesday 26th of November 2019 at the two days workshop organized jointly by the Economic Community of West African States Parliament and National Human Right Commission of Nigeria, on the theme “Human Rights Framework and the Situation of elderly people in Africa”.

“I do not want any of the lawmakers here to have same regret, I have tried to amend my regret, that is why I am in the sub-regional Community Parliament to appeal to you all haven recognised the plight of older persons”.

He appealed to lawmakers to become advocates of older persons as they will sooner or later join very soon.
According to the former Senator, when he joined the association of elderly persons in Nigeria; Coalition of Societies for the Right of Older Persons, he noticed that it was necessary to get a legal framework to define the basic rights and privileges of  older persons.

“As an elderly state man and former lawmaker, I cannot stand anywhere and say I have a right to anything, there is no legality to hold any person responsible for that, our organisation has started with a draft bill which is on the floor of the Nigerian Senate and has gone through first reading”.

He further appealed to lawmakers from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliaments, to raise the issue at their various National Assemblies to start creating the basic right and privileges for their older persons, as a draft of the bill in the Nigerian Senate would be made available for adoption in the sub-region.

“If you have this same right you can move from Nigeria to Ghana and you would be accorded this same rights and privileges”.

Dr. Eze Ajoku, shared an experience with the sub-regional lawmakers, where two weeks ago in Nigeria he went to the American Embassy and spent only twenty-nine minutes to be served with more than three hundred people in line to be attended to.

“When they noticed I was above seventy years, they jumped me and served me. This is civilization that is what we seek for elderly persons. Some of these rights are not difficult so my colleagues lawmakers you have a major stake in this, you can help fighting for older person”.

Members of Parliament play a very important role with everything that has to do with a Nation, MPs are not aware of the plight of older persons, what “I have found is disturbing and policy makers and MPs should not forget the fact that they would get old”, he concluded.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Abuja

Senator Sadiq Ibrahim in presenting Nigeria’s country report on Wednesday the 27th of November 2019, pointed out that it would pay its 2018 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) community levy next month.

According to Mr. Sadiq Ibrahim, as the council of Ministers meet on 17th December 2019, they are hopeful payment for last year would be made before the said meeting.

“As reported in May this year, Nigeria’s 2017 levy as deposited in December 2018 and was a total of $ 59, 898, 606.19”.

First Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase unhappy with comments passed by some lawmakers about the non-payment of the ECOWAS Community levy, mounted a strong defense saying Nigeria has paid its due over the years and continues to do that.

“I am saddened by some of the comments by our colleagues here, someone would look at a contribution of six hundred million dollars as no money and as no contribution, the person is not being sensitive that is so unfair”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Abuja