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ECOWAS sets up Ad Hoc Committee to work on direct election into the community parliament

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament after the inauguration of its fifth parliament in Niger has established an Ad Hoc Committee to put in motion direct universal suffrage of representation at the parliament.

From the first to the fifth Community Parliament, lawmakers were nominated by their national parliaments, and there has been an advocate for this practice to change so that people can be directly elected into the community parliament from their respective countries.

The 15-member Committee is chaired by the first Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Iddriss Wase.
Members include; Sedami Medagan – Benin; Noal Toe Goakun- Burkina Faso; Filomena Goncalves- Cape Verde; Fanny Chantal -Cote d’ Ivoire; Mohammed Magassy-Gambia; Clement Kofi Humado -Ghana; Aissata Daffe- Guinea ; Caramo Camara -Guinea Bissua; Clarence  Massaquoi- Liberia ; Youssouf Aya-Mali; Hanatou Barkire- Niger;  Biodun  Olujimi- Nigeria ; Aime Assine -Senegal; Chernor Maju Bah -Sierra Leone and Kofi Tsolenyanu from Togo.

And the Committee is expected to make recommendations that would be presented for adoption by the Authority of Heads of State and Government.

Rt. Hon.  Sidie Mohammed Tunis urged members to carry out their assignment with dedication, saying, “This is a project that l hold dearly, and I wish to urge members of the Ad Hoc Committee to approach the job with all seriousness it deserves”.

He said members would be called upon at any time to meet in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, to adopt a road map, not necessarily during the ordinary session.

The speaker equally called on other members who were nominated into the fourteen standing Committees to accept their nominations and work assiduously for the development of the region.

He said, he realized a lot of lobbying was done lending to the final conclusion of the work, and urged them to imbibe the culture of comprise, believing that as an integrated parliament, there are no winner or losers. “We should regard ourselves as winners even if our expectations were not fully met”, he advised.

Speaker Sidie also announced his intention to revive the Association of Presiding Officers of West African Parliament to promote a good working relationship between the regional and national parliaments of member states.

He said although the duality of membership had some disadvantages, it could provide the parliament with renewed opportunities. Such collaboration, he said, is expected to be mutually beneficial to both institutions.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Niger

“Let’s make women empowerment part of our tradition”—Ikeazu

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A member of the Nigerian House of Representative and a representative in the newly inaugurated fifth Legislature of the Community Parliament, Lynda Chuba Ikeazu is advocating for issues of women empowerment in the sub-region to be made a tradition.

According to the lawmaker, the issue of women empowerment should not be reduced to tokenism, rather it should be natured and entrenched.

“Right now we are just like a cup in hand, can you do this and that for women, the best way is to make it part of our tradition so that when we talk of empowerment no one is going to feel that they are doing us a favor”.

Mrs. Chuba Ikeazu in an interview lamented over a situation where in the inaugurated fifth ECOWAS Parliament there is no female representative from the Republic of Togo.

She made this remarks in the wake of the election of a third Deputy Speaker when the female agenda was being pushed to get two women by Burkina Faso. Togo made a solid point that they have never occupied the position, and others believe it would have been a golden opportunity for Togo to pick one slot if they had a female lawmaker among the male dominated delegation.

“Togo in their National Parliament I do not know if they even have a female representative, as women we have a long way to go and challenges to deal with. If we do not make women empowerment a tradition, people are going to give us reasons for not supporting women”.

As to whether there is hope that the women empowerment agenda can make any progress, she responded that once there is life, there is hope and as ECOWA female lawmakers they are determined to work together, and quickly pointed out that power would not be given to women on a “silver platter”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Niger

5th ECOWAS Parliament: Parliamentary questions and statements to be introduced

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A member of Ghana’s delegation to the fifth Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Mahama Ayariga has hinted of an introduction of a new novelty in the parliament.

According to him, the Ad Hoc Committee on rules of procedure is introducing parliamentary questions where various sector Commissioners of ECOWAS would answer and there would be statements on the floor of the House.

He further noted that it would create the enabling environment for MPs to raise a lot of questions and hold various ECOWAS Agencies and Institutions more accountable especially with the enthusiasm exhibited by lawmakers turning up in their numbers.

“You see, Nigeria has eventually changed its membership with the entire thirty-five (35) membership; new membership of thirty-one (31) and retaining only four (4) old members. The change alone the parliament has become new. Other countries have had their MPs changed with new set of MPs, and with the enthusiasms, I hope we would start with all seriousness”.

Again, MPs should bring issues that affect ECOWAS citizens to the Parliament as they look to the Parliament to make important procurement and resolutions that have a direct effect on their day to day challenges, he stated.

“I have told you before that Francophone parliamentary system is not exciting as the Anglophone so we would try as much as possible to let the Anglophone parliamentary practice inform the workings of the fifth legislature and will attract the attention of members who would be visible.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Niger

Ghana secures increase in leadership of fifth ECOWAS Parliament

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs

The Republic of Ghana through tactical negotiation in the fifth Community Parliament has secured six (6) leadership positions out of the fourteen working Committees established in the current Parliament.

Mr. Mahama Ayariga represented the leader of Ghana’s delegation, Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh at the Committee of Selection whiles Clement Kofi Humado represented Ghana on the rules and procedure Committee.

Speaking in an interview, Mahama Ayariga noted that Ghana had five (5) leadership positions in the fourth Legislature which has been scaled up to six (6) in the current parliament.

“My task was to secure as much as possible leadership position of the various committees, and within the contest of countries lobbying, we targeted six or seven positions and we managed to secure six (6) leadership positions”, Mr Ayariga revealed.

He disclosed also that Ghana chairs the Committee on Trade, Customs and Free Movement. And indicated that “for me it is a central Committee, when it comes to ECOWAS, the reason for establishing it with the Free Movement of Persons, Goods and Services”.

More so, in the light of the conduct of Nigeria in the closing of their boarders and threatening the whole sub-region of movement of goods and services, “Nigeria has indicated that the only country they could listen to in this matters is Ghana and they supported Ghana in taking over the position so that we work together in resolving issues in that sector”, he said.

On the Committee of Social Affairs, Gender and Women Empowerment, Ghana’s only female representative in the fifth legislature, Ama Pomaa Boateng secured that position of first Vice Chairperson,

while Sampson Ahi secured the Vice Chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources. In the struggle between Anglophones and Francophones, Liberia secured chairman of the Committee on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and African Peer Review, whiles Ghana secured first rapporteur in the person of Mahama Ayariga.

Again, Ghana secured second rapporteur on two other committees which are Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, and Committee on Infrastructure.

On the Committee of Health Collins Owusu Amankwah is the second rapporteur, whiles Clement Kofi Humado also secure same position of second rapporteur on the Committee on Infrastructure, the others are Wahab Wumbei Suhuyini is a member of the Committee on Industry and Private Sector with Ebenezer Kojo Kum being a member of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Niger

Appointment Committee to start vetting of nominees to Supreme Court today

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The Appointment Committee of Parliament would start vetting President Nana Akuffo-Addo’s nominees to the Supreme Court today.

Speaker of Parliament Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye referred the nominees to be vetted to the Appointment Committee when he received communications from the presidency on the nominees to be appointed to the Supreme Court.

When the Committee vets them and recommend them for approval, they will appear at the plenary when the House returns from recess on May 19, 2020.

First to appear before the Committee on Monday will be Justice Clemence Jackson Honyenuga, and Justice Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu.

On Tuesday the 12th of May 2020, Professor Henrietta J. A. N. Mensa-Bonsu and Mr. Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi would appear before the Committee.

However, in the wake of the novel COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing there would be limited space at the vetting room in Parliaments new block.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

ECOWA should enforce gender parity through protocols—Olujimi

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Senator Biodun Christine Olujimi has said if the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) cannot enforce its protocols of thirty percent women parity, it should not be talking about it.

According to her, if this milestone would be achieved, there is the urgent need to write letters to the sub-regional countries who are signatories, and until that is done there cannot be improvement in female representation.

In an interview ahead of elections of Deputy Speakers, Senator Olujimi noted that she was not sure if the fifth legislature could produce two female Deputy Speakers. Eventually, the fifth legislature had Adja Satu Camara Pinto from Guinea Bissau and Kaboubie Reine Bertille Sakande Benao’s attempt of being a second and third female Deputy speakers dashed.

“We have less women in the fifth legislature, which was a major concern in the fourth Legislature. We had twenty-one females out of the one hundred and fifteen and in this current Legislature we are less in number”.

She further pointed out that when you do not have strength in the female numbers, it become very difficult to push the female empowerment agenda. Again, “we are only paying lip service to women empowerment and it is a problem in Africa”, she lamented.

“Look at Nigeria, out of the thirty-five member delegation we have to the ECOWAS Parliament, we have only two females, Burkina Faso has one, same with Ghana and the Gambia. Women empowerment we are just saying something to represent something and it is not good enough”.

According to her, with the population of West Africa, the representation should have been forty-five females to sixty-five males; “but right now it is not”, she pointed out strongly.

As to why female representation is not showing up strongly, she made a case that the blame should be put at the door steps of leadership at the various Assemblies and Parliaments, as they have their own reason for doing what they are doing by getting in more males.

“In our own case in Nigeria, we did not know the female ratio that was coming to the Community Parliament until we were heading to Niger for the swearing in of the fifth legislature, for us to notice that we were only two. We should have had at least six females. She stated that ECOWAS needs to enforce its protocols more especially with countries that are signatories need to enforce it by writing letters to the countries on the thirty-five percent representations”.

As to whether there would be improvement this time around seeing women heading the yet to be formed committees, she noted that it comes again to the representation of females from various countries, adding that as in the case of Togo, they do not have a female representation, and also if  it has to do with country representation of committees.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Niger

ECOWAS Parliament to establish PAC—Speaker

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Speaker of the fifth Community Parliament, Rt. Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis has proposed the establishment of a Public Account Committee (PAC) with a core mandate of reviewing audit reports submitted by the Commission aimed at creating greater transparency.

According to the Speaker, it is intended to lay the basis for restoring financial integrity, accountability and public confidence in ECOWAS Institutions.

He made this proposal when he delivered his inaugural speech on Monday March 9, 2020 in Niamey Niger.

Also when established, it would give effect to financial management that places a greater implementation responsibility on managers and make them more accountable in their performance.

“The Committee shall among other things be the protector of public monies entrusted to our care, in compliance with Article 7 (c) of the Supplementary Act relating to the enhancement of the powers of the Parliament”, he stated.

The Speaker further noted that parliament shall exercise parliamentary oversight functions over the activities of program implementation bodies of the Community and adopt the appropriate resolutions.

Rt. Hon Tunis called for much attention to be paid to the performance aspects of the Community budget to demonstrate to stakeholders that ECOWAS resources are being used effectively to achieve results that would benefit its citizens.

“If ECOWAS States and Government must be accountable to its citizens and donor partners, the process must begin with ECOWAS Institutions. All monies spent must be scrutinized and ECOWAS Institutions must be run as efficiently and effectively as possible. As transparency, accountability goes hand in hand with   progress and prosperity to build a strong economy, society, security and opportunity for all”.

The Speaker noted that during the lifespan of the fifth legislature, economic issues, especially poverty eradication, rising inflation and high cost of living that have overwhelmed the community states will be part of the agenda and undertakings.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Niger

“We should not be punished for non payment of community levy”—Orlando

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Former fourth Deputy Speaker of the Community Parliament in the fourth Legislature Orlando Pereira Dias has said its wrong for Cape Verde to denied the opportunity of occupying the third Deputy Speaker in the fifth Legislature that was inaugurated on Monday 9th of March 2020 in Niger for non-payment of its Levy.

According to him the issues of Community levy should be left for the Authority of Heads of States to deal with and not lawmakers representing their countries denied opportunities.

This issue came up strongly on Tuesday 10th March 2020 when the committee of Selection was meeting to have lawmakers serve in various committees.

Leader of the Cote d’lvoire delegation to the fifth legislature Gbocho Marcel Monney was of the view that composing new Committees for the fifth Legislature pointed out that countries like her country, Niger and Ghana that are up to day with the payment of their county levy should be considered over those who have not paid.

As the Community Levy is the funds that are used in undertaking activities in ECOWAS, chairman of the Selection Committee Edwin Marvin Junior noted that in the case of Cape Verde, it is the reason why when it came up on Monday during the inauguration the Speaker noted that he would meet the delegation so that is addressed so that Cape Verde is not denied any opportunity that they deserve in the ECOWAS.

Mr. Nassirou Halidou on his part noted that it is true that ECOWAS needs the levy but all the countries are not economically the same others need to be encourage and other end of the day they would pay all outstanding levies.

Other delegates from Cape Verde who are at the meeting were not happy that their country was being taken on when the issues was supposed to be address at the governmental level, other MPs who contributed were of the vey the action being taken would give the MPs the opportunity to put pressure on their government to pay the Community levy.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Niger

Cape Verde denied third Deputy Speakerships for non-payment of levy

Posted on by Kwaku GhanaMPs
Cape Verde was denied the third Deputy Speakership position on Monday in Niger where the fifth Community Legislature was inaugurated for non-payment of their Community levy.

In the fourth Legislature they occupied the four Deputy Speaker position and in the fifth Legislature the Community lawmakers were pushing for third Deputy Speakership position because in the immediate past legislature they had occupied the fourth position.

First Deputy Speaker of the fifth Parliament Ahmed Idris Wase pointed out to lawmakers from Cape Verde who kept making interventions to occupy the third Deputy Speaker position their financial status from what they are told cannot allow them to occupy that position.

“The institution cannot function without our contribution and for me this would serve as a deterrent to anyone who want to be a member of the Community your right start first with your contribution, this is what we have been told unless there is another issue to change the narration”.

He further pointed out to the Cape Verde delegation they lost on the opportunity of occupying the position of a Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament for the same good reasons.

On his part Speaker Rt. Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis indicated to the Plenary that he was not going to open the issue up for debate and assured his colleagues from Cape Verde after the plenary he would have a special section with them for further discussion  and assured them if there is anything they think they would lose by not occupying the third Speaker position he would make it up to them.

When Ghanamps.com touched based with the former fourth Deputy Speaker of the fourth Legislature Orlando Pereira Dias he demanded the interview in Portuguese, as the journalists made attempts to get an interpreter he indicated that he was not prepare to grant the interview.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com/Niger

Kate Addo presents inclusive politics paper in UK

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The Director of Public Affairs of Ghana’s Parliament, Madam Kate Addo is in the United Kingdom for a three day Commonwealth partnership for democracy conference in exclusive politics and practice on the topic “Young People In Politics: Changing Perceptions”.

Her presentation focuses on the inclusion of youth in Ghana’s parliamentary democratic processes, using the vehicle of youth parliaments.Mrs. Kate Addo is attending this conference at the invitation of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, a UK leading democracy-strengthening organization that brings together parliamentary and political party expertise to support developing countries and those transitioning to democracy.

The WFD has been working very closely with the Public Affairs Department of Ghana to ensure that Ghana achieves a truly inclusive and representative democracy, especially with regards to young people. They have remained key partners in the formation and maintenance of youth parliaments in some selected universities in Ghana.

Some Completed Activities that have so far been undertaken by the WFD with Ghana’s Parliament’s Public Affairs Department include

– Capacity Assessment of Six Students Parliaments

– Capacity Building of 22 University Students’ Parliaments

– Supported Parliament to organise the Roundtable Meeting on Youth Parliaments in Ghana, Koforidua 2019;

– Preliminary Stage of Commonwealth Day Inter-Universities Debate and Quiz Competition

– Semi-Finals Stage of Commonwealth Day Inter-Universities Debate and Quiz Competition

Upcoming Activities (till 31st March 2020):

– Finals of Commonwealth Day Inter-Universities Debate and Quiz Competition

Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) was established in 1992 after the fall of the Berlin Wall as a non-departmental public body which operated closely with, but independent of the UK Government.

The vision of the organization was to support democracy, to ensure inclusive governance.

WFD, since 2010 has been supporting the Parliament of Ghana through its Integrated Programme.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com
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