Ahead of Nigeria’s general elections; Presidential and Parliamentary of February 25, 2023 the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament is ready to observe the election as preparation are far advanced.
According to the Chairman of the Political Affairs, Peace, Security and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr. the parliament is in touch with the ECOWAS long term observers and they have an advance team which is being coordinated by the Secretary General John Azumah.
In a telephone interview with Ghanamps.com at his base in Liberia, Senator Snowe noted that he would be joining the team next week Tuesday, February 21, 2023; and as head of the Parliamentary delegation for the Nigerian election observation he noted that eight (8) of his colleagues lawmakers are part of the team.
“We are monitoring the situation there and working with the ECOWAS Commission and the Nigerian, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and we are hopeful that we can have a peaceful election in Nigeria”, he said.
Furthermore, on the preparation towards the upcoming Liberia’s general election this year, he pointed out that the ECOWAS Commission would be in Liberia this week to have an assessment of Liberia’s preparedness for their upcoming election.
And in May of this year, the ECOWAS Parliament would be in Liberia for a fact finding mission to do an assessment on Liberia’s preparedness for the election, and June 2023 Committees on Political Affairs and Legal would have a delocalized meeting in Liberia.
It would be centered on Liberia’s preparedness for its election, as ECOWAS would have long and short term observer mission that would be going to Liberia for its elections.
In the case of Sierra Leone, which also has a general election this year, Chairman Snowe pointed out that, there is a mission of the Parliament in mid March 2023 by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Female Parliamentary Association (ECOFEPA) which would be having a big symposium and the Speaker has mandated the Political Affairs Committee to spend some time there within that period to see Sierra Leone’s preparedness for the elections.
Again, in May 2023, they have a mission there to check on the final preparation of the elections in June 2023, as they would be there to observe the elections as well.
And as they plan for the Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone, they are putting in place plans to addressing issues of run offs. “We have our team prepared to visit those countries or be a part of the run off process”, he stated.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com
He noted that small scale illegal miners have polluted most of Ghanas water bodies forcing a number of cocoa farmers are sell out their cocoa farms to illegal miners for ready cash.
Mr. Abu Jinapor further noted that government has come to grips with the small scale mining to the extent that, government is working hard to ensure there is a responsible and vibrant small scale mining sector running concurrently with a reboots cocoa farming sector.
The said publication also sought to suggest that the President had confronted Sammy Awuku over the development.
According to her, even though the geographical location and the disadvantaged nature of the Afram Plains North constituency does not enable her count herself among the best, the award will spur her on to give off her best.
According to him looking at the pedigree of the Tamale South lawmaker from his point of view it would be wrong for the current Minority Leadership to do that despite the fact that he is not the one to show where Haruna Iddrisu should seat.
And further pointed out that this is a lesson for the Majority side to learn from because it can happen to them, if they give any advice it should not be seen as spite, seating position is the work of the chief whip despite the fact that the leader has a say, he stated.
The immediate past Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu said he is prepared to seat wherever he will be directed to seat or he is offered but as someone who was properly brought up he will not want to take over the seat of Mr. Collins Dauda who is his senior.
When the Tamale South lawmaker entered the chamber on Thursday, February 9, 2023 morning the issue of where he should seat arose despite earlier arrangements made for him to seat by former Majority Leader Cletus Avorka.
As usually it starts in January of every year, hence by the March 31, 2023 the House will have to break and it means they are going to have only eight weeks for the first meeting and is loaded and they have to do their best to achieve a lot, hence the need to work together to achieve a lot.