Members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament have called for urgent actions from the Community Institutions to stop the trends that lead to distortion of democratic rule in Member States.
MPs made the call on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 during a technical section of the ongoing High-level Parliamentary Seminar in Winneba Ghana.
The parliamentary seminar with the theme “Two Decades of Democratic Elections in ECOWAS Member States: Achievements, Challenges, Challenges and the Way Forward” seeks to proffer solutions to electoral inconsistencies in Member States.
Community lawmakers at Winneba Seminar opening
A member of the Ghanaian delegation to the Community Parliament, Laadi Ayii Ayamba who lamented about the situation said ECOWAS has the solutions to the problems, but needs to put in political will and affirmative actions.
According to Ayamba, the situations in Mali and Guinea could have been averted if ECOWAS was proactive.
“To me, it was a shame when ECOWAS went to Guinea for mediation when an action could have been taken when the people had opposed the change of constitution which led to the coup d’etat”.
She further pointed out that, ECOWAS had every opportunity before the situation escalated but treated the situation very likely simple, and then it became a big problem.
And is about time ECOWAS sat up and take actions before situations become problems, Ayamba said.
The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is organising a high-level parliamentary seminar on 20 years of democratic elections in West Africa in Ghana’s coastal city of Winneba from October 13 to 15, 2021.
The theme of the event is: “Evaluating Two Decades of Democratic Elections In The ECOWAS Region: Achievements, Challenges And The Way Forward”.
The President of Ghana and current Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo is expected to attend this important meeting where he will deliver the opening address.
The objective of the seminar is to assess the electoral systems in the ECOWAS Member States to identify the challenges and proffer solutions to the shortcomings in the organization of elections.
After several decades of democratic system practice based on elections and multiparty politics, the issue of level of consolidation of democracy has remained unanswered, given the political and institutional instability, observed in many countries of the region.
It is within this context that the ECOWAS Parliament, a platform of dialogue, consultation, and promotion of democracy in ECOWAS Member States, is organising this high-level seminar.
Academics, experts in political science and electoral systems, as well as media professionals will animate the various panels, which will be moderated by Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, former President of the ECOWAS Commission.
The seminar will be followed by the 2021 Second Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament, from 18 to 22 October 2021, also in Winneba.
The session will be mainly focused on the consideration and adoption of the draft of the 2022 budget of the Community Parliament.
The ECOWAS Parliament is composed of 115 seats. As for attribution of seats, each Member State is guaranteed a minimum of five seats. The remaining forty seats were shared in proportion to the population of each country.
Based on this distribution, Nigeria has 35 seats, Ghana 8, Cote d’Ivoire 7, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Senegal have 6 seats each. The other countries, namely Benin, Cape Verde, the Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Togo all have 5 seats each.
Speaker of the Community Parliament in an exclusive interview with Ghanamps.com has revealed that he would be visiting Guinea Conakry as it is his duty as Speaker to represent the citizens of the Community.
According to him since there is a coup in Guinea Conakry and the Constitution has been suspended and the National Assembly dissolved, it is his responsibility as a Speaker to go in there and engage the military junta.
Authority of Heads of States of ECOWAS in Guinea Conakry
“To see how as quickly as possible, in line with the Authority of Heads of States demand to return the country to constitutional rule, as Speaker, it is my duty to maintain and uphold democracy, so I intend to visit as soon as possible”.
He further indicated that maybe during the Extraordinary Session in Winneba, Ghana, whiles the Committees are working, he would make a fast dash to meet with the military junta in the coming days.
The Rt. Hon Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Dr. Sidie Mohammed Tunis in an exclusive phone interview from his base in Sierra Leone with Ghanamps.com has said the former Members of Parliament (MPs) from Mali and Guinea Conakry cannot be invited to the upcoming Extraordinary Session in Winneba, Ghana from Tuesday, October 12 to 22, 2021.
According to him due to the military coup in the two countries, both countries are under sanction from ECOWAS and the decision of the Council was taken by the Authority of Heads of States, “so I as Speaker cannot go against it”.
Dr Sidie Mohammed Tunis pointed out that the inference from what happened in the case of Mali is true, when they had their interim legislature, they had issues with them, and some of the Community MPs objected to their attendance in Sierra Leon, Freetown at the first Extraordinary Session.
President of ECOWAS Justice Edward Amoako Asante
“So, I sent the matter to the ECOWAS Court of justice, and interpretation was made, and we were asked to accept them. At that particular point, they could have attended parliament because the court has decided on that and that was the ruling. But just between that time and now, there was a second coup, then ECOWAs came again with sanction, and Mali was suspended from the activities of ECOWAS”.
Again, he pointed out that it brought them back to square one, so the issue of the court ruling does not stand any longer considering the fact that there was a second coup in Mali. “There is no way I would accept Mali because of that. The one from Guinea Conakry is quite recent, and to set the record straight I cannot invite membership of the two countries”
Secretary General John Azumah left Rt Hon Speaker right
Commenting on the Community Court’s ruling with regard to Guinea, he said; “If there is transitional Legislature and Government of Guinea accepted by ECOWAS, and they send a delegation to the parliament, then I would accept them; we do not have to even go to court again because the court has already given a ruling on that”.
Again, “I condemned the coup in Guinea, but at the same time it is not acceptable, when a constitution gives two terms, we have our political leaders amending the constitution to favor them”.
As to whether he thinks presidents in the sub-region are doing much to kick against presidents changing the constitution to elongate their tenure, he said “absolutely, that is why we as parliamentarians must ensure that we push for that as much as possible. I agree coup is not part of us but what about those who are tampering with the constitution, are they also not responsible for the problems that we are having?” He queried.
And added that; “We should not only condemn coups but we should also condemn those who tamper with their constitution when it gives them two terms and they change it to third term.”
Participants at the 1st Volta Stakeholders Conference, under the auspices of Volta MPs, Held at Ho on October 4, 2021 have agreed to make the stakeholders’ conference a permanent platform for effective engagement on matters of common interest relative to the holistic development of the Volta Region.
The conference aimed at harnessing the resources of the region through effective collaboration between Political Representatives, Chiefs, Business Leaders from the private sector and the Media towards a more realistic development agenda.
Participants also believe the development of the Volta Region should be linked with positive engagement between both elected and appointed political leaders from the region, traditional authorities and the private sector periodically. Such engagements they opined should elevate the discussions above partisan political interests.
Read below the full communiqué:
COMMUNIQUE:
1st Volta Stakeholders Conference Under the Auspices of Volta MPs, Held at Ho on October 4, 2021
The Members of Parliament from the Volta Region in collaboration with the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, the Volta Development Forum and the Volta Regional Coordinating Council held its first stakeholders Conference on October 4, 2021 in Ho. The meeting which was held under the auspices of Volta MPs Caucus focused on harnessing the resources of the region through effective collaboration between Political Representatives, Chiefs, Business Leaders from the private sector and the Media towards a more realistic development agenda.
Participants agreed that the stakeholders conference must become a permanent platform for effective engagement on matters of common interest relative to the holistic development of the Volta Region. The conference thus made the following observations:
The development of the Volta Region is inextricably linked with positive engagement between both elected and appointed political leaders from the region, traditional authorities and the private sector periodically. Such engagements should elevate the discussions above partisan political interests.
The meeting noted with concern some key projects in the region that needed urgent attention from government. These projects include but not limited to the following; the trunk road from Accra to Ho, the Eastern Corridor Road, retooling of the Ho Teaching Hospital with Equipment and Staff, the operationalization of the Ho Airport as a Sub-Regional Aviation Hub and Aircraft Maintenance Center, expedite work on the abandoned Keta Harbor Project, construct a sea-defense wall at the shoreline from Aflao through Anloga and see to the completion of all abandoned school projects in the Volta Region before new projects are awarded.
The Eastern Rail Extension Project is not only strategic but a laudable one that must focus on creating employment opportunities for the youth and private sector investors. Funding and operationalization of the rail project should be consultative enough while creating opportunities for indigenous investors who may be interested in participating in the processes.
Project implementation processes in the Volta Region should involve traditional authorities who are major stakeholders and could provide effective monitoring roles. This will ultimately help in reducing the sad phenomenon of wanton project abandonment across the region.
Impediments placed at Asikuma and Sogakofe by the Ghana Immigration Service ostensibly looking out for foreigners while land borders are supposed to have been closed are not only affecting free movement of citizens from the region to other parts of the country but are demeaning and discriminatory. This conduct only reminds. Voltarians of apartheid South Africa anytime the people who are made to disembark from their vehicles and trek across these immigration roadblocks on daily basis. Besides, the state of the road at these checkpoints are so deplorable that commuters have no option but to walk in the mud, whenever they disembark at these points for immigration inspections.
Youth unemployment in the Volta Region deserves urgent attention from all stakeholders as it has become a security threat.
President Nana Akufo-Addo would address the Extraordinary Session of ECOWAS to be held in Winneba, in the Central Region.
The ten days session is one of two Extraordinary Sessions outside Abuja, the seat of the ECOWAS parliament.
Nana Akufo-Addo would be address the session in his capacity as the host president and the President of the Authority of Heads of States.
The Spokesperson for the 8-member Ghanaian delegation, Mahama Ayariga, at a press conference said President Akufo-Addo would be speaking to the West Africa through the ECOWAS Parliament on some land mark issues in the sub-region including some of the events in Guinea Conakry, the issues in Mali, two upcoming elections before the end of this year – one in Cape Verde, and another in the Gambia.
The Extraordinary Session on the theme: “two decades of democratic elections in ECOWAS Member states: achievement, challenges and prospects”, is dedicated to reviewing, and approving the budget of the parliament of ECOWAS.
However, the session as usual practice, would be preceded by a seminar that is focusing on democratic consolidation in the sub-region, thus looking at issues of elections, election monitoring, general democratic practice and its entrenchment, challenges of security, and how the problems of democratic consolidation is also linked to some of the security challenges that we face in the sub-region.
According to Mr. Ayariga, the essence of the parliament trying to sit in other countries is for visibility to its work; and to bring parliament closer to the people, “and so the people see there is a parliament, and appreciate the value of the parliament”.
He therefore appealed to the media to give the necessary coverage to the session to ensure the impact on the citizenry is felt.
Members of Parliament from the Volta Region are holding a three days stakeholders’ conference in the region’s capital, Ho.
The bipartisan forum is aimed at charting a pathway to harness the human and capital resource potentials for rapid development of the region.
Chairman of the Volta MPs’ Caucus, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah in a welcome address said the conference is expected to provide an opportunity for Stakeholders especially the MPs and business leaders from the region to take stock and brainstorm for the efficient development of the region.
Two important issues including infrastructure and human development is expected to take center stage in the discussion from the perspective of government and opposition.
Mr. Bedzrah who is also MP for Ho West urged the need for the exploits of the forebears to inspire the current generation of citizens for greater development of the region.
Some urgent infrastructure and human challenges confronting the region include the poor nature of the trunk road after the Adomi bridge to the regional capital, Ho, the eastern corridor road network, the security threat posed by youth unemployment and the non- operationalisation of the Ho Airport five years on after its completion.
Other challenges are the lack of requisite equipment for the effective functioning of the Ho Teaching Hospital, the forgotten Keta Port project, the untapped tourism potential of the region, underutilised arable lands and water bodies for agriculture purposes.
Mr. Kwasi Bedzrah expressed the hope that through effective collaboration, much can be achieved by minimizing the challenges.
“These and many challenges facing the region can be tackled if we grab the bull by its horns through effective and sustained collaborative efforts such as the one we are having today. I am confident in our collective energies that we are capable of rewriting the score and impacting the lives of our people” he stated.
The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Letsa assured of the total support of his outfit to the initiative and stated that the people of the region becomes happy whenever they see all irrespective of their political persuasion fight for the development of the region.
He expressed the hope that a lot can be achieved if they work together with a common destiny.
Dr Archibald Letsa hinted that the Volta Trade and Investment Fair will be held from 15th-28th November, 2021 and expressed appreciation to all Volta MPs and the Volta Development Forum for the level of corporation and support offered him.
The grouping of the world’s five major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, BRICS was established in September 2009 to promote regional integration, peace, security, development and cooperation. The bloc was also created to contribute significantly to the development of humanity and establishing a more equitable and fairer world. It is in this light that a group of scholars, activists, freedom fighters and justice lovers under the banner of a new organization, “New Dawn Vision” (https://newdawnvision.org) have held their second conference to explore the existence of BRICS and how it is shaping international politics and development. The conference that took place virtually via zoom on September 18, saw two speakers; Dr. Msia Kibona Clark, Associate Professor of African Studies at Howard University and Sean Blackmon, Host of ‘By All Means Necessary’ on Sputnik Radio dwell on the topic: “Brics and Shared Historical Experiences – From Freedom to the Right To Development”, dissecting how far the BRICS nations have come with respect to the economy and development since the emergence of the bloc in 2009.
Dr. Msia Clark, in her presentation, pointed out that the establishment of BRICS, which was centered around challenging western dominance economically and otherwise as well as changing the status quo, did not resolve in any kind of revolutionary shift in economics and foreign policy and did not certainly challenge the hegemony of western countries. Focusing on China and Russia, Dr. Clark looked back at the kinds of economic systems that were practiced during the cold war, which were mainly capitalism and socialism, and pointed out that these two countries, given their respective populations, surface areas and vibrant economies, could do more to change the economic dynamics of the other member states, because as it stands, there are no competing economic systems with BRICS. Dr Msia underlined: ‘’BRICS is basically ‘neoliberalism in colour’ or ‘rainbow neoliberalism’ as the people are coming from black and brown countries, which seems to push the same neoliberal agenda.’’
Sean Blackmon focused on the geopolitical dynamics at play from the standpoint of Global social movements, stating that the common denominator that holds all the BRICS countries together is the intensifying impact of neoliberalism and the ravages of imperialism and colonialism driven by the wealthier countries like the United States, which has resulted to the immiseration of people all over the world.
He came to this conclusion after exploring latest events that have been taking place in these BRICS states. He suggested that in order to break this trend, it will be good to strengthen relationships with social movements not just in the BRICS countries, but also all around the globe, making allusions to #Black Lives Matter# movement that kicked against racism due to the George Floyd episode in the US, the struggle against president Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil led by the Brazil’s Landless Workers Movement called MST, and also with the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) fighting for the rights of workers, amongst others. Making a reference to China and their most recent developments that have seen the country end poverty and lead one of the best responses to the Covid 19 pandemic, Sean noted that even though they in the United States were promised reprieve from the open racist and belligerent policies of former President Donald Trump if Joe Biden was elected, what has really been observed in many cases is a maintaining of this imperialist policy and in some cases doubling down.
This of course comes as no surprise because the two ruling class parties, the Republicans and Democrats are often in lockstep in matters of war and domination. Thus the Biden-Harris administration seems just as intense to stoke war with Beijing as was their predecessors. Responding to a worry from a participant as to whether Biden is as bad as Trump, Sean pointed out that looking at the democrats and republicans is like looking at two sides of the same coin. They are just two parties that represent different wings of the US ruling Class, the US capitalist interest and often taken different routes to the same destination. In a practical example to better explain this, he pointed out that Donald trump kind of pushed for the racist conspiracy in a very open way while Biden on the other hand is more polite in his presentation of the same issue. In a nutshell they both have the same class interest. He culminated by stating: ‘’our organisations must be clear and principled in their opposition to western hegemony, a great power conflict and to a system that places war profits and plunder over the interest of humanity’’.
One of the participants reacting to the concept of ‘neoliberalism in colour’ lamented the fact that people of African descent who should have the best interest of Africans at heart and even in the work that they do, ascribe to the western bourgeois ideology, which is drastically impacting the African continent and its ability to move forward towards Pan-Africanism. Making a reference to BRICS or any other external entity that could be useful to the continent in terms of money or development, she suggested that more emphasis be put towards the creation of an internal economic body which could serve the same purposes as some of these international financial corporations. She emphasized that more focus should be laid on the resources present in the continent so as to forge inter-continental trade and abandon borrowing from international monetary institutions. She further called for a solution towards handling petty bourgeois anti-African Africans who happen to be in the leadership of many institutions out of the continent. Sean Blackmon supported by noting that the best way out would be self-development and a push to strengthen relationships with Africans on the continent in order to push these institutions to have that kind of real dynamic change.
Another participant pointed out that with BRICS in place it will be beneficial to look at the bilateral relationships that BRICS member states have with other countries on the continent, noting that even the way these countries: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are cooperating with each other just focuses on each country’s national strategic interests as opposed to any kind of collective movement to either challenge neoliberalism or western imperialism. There was a general call for BRICS to develop a model that will promote regional economic integration at Africa level that will also improve the lives of everyone on the grassroots level as well. A question was also raised as to what point BRICS will also stop dealing with countries individually and start thinking about engaging with institutions more collectively on the ground.
Some other participant disclosed that BRICS has a project to devise financial institutions that can help in the development of all the strategies, which of course will not be based on the neoliberalist program. This is so because, one of the things today for Africa and its relationship with the US and all the other western forces, is the fact that a lot of politics in terms of economics is based on the neoliberalist system, which undermines the continent’s development. There was also an opener to the fact that all of the continent’s problems will disappear because of the presence of BRICS. Thus, the continent needs to stay united in order to build a good relationship with some of these BRICS nations, and also go into the fundamentals and the growth of BRICS and how it could be used as a route to development in the struggle to Pan- Africanism. Reacting to one last worry if the USSR is a lesson at all for Africa, Sean said he sees the Soviet Union as a great achievement in history and one that was ruthlessly attacked by US imperialism and ultimately betrayed from within. One of the main lessons is that any real unified effort seen as a threat is going to face the same sort of attack and that is what one can expect whenever there is any sort of movement of consequence be it on the African continent or elsewhere.
In her concluding remarks, Dr. Clark mentioned that priority and focus should be directed towards improving the living conditions of the people on the ground and not necessarily a common political bloc like the United States of Africa, with one central government. ‘’That is not needed for Africans to be united in their policies and the way that they deal with Europe,’’ she said. She ended by suggesting that if the big economies like Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt were to set the tone and decide not to cooperate with the IMF and World Bank, it will give countries with smaller economies the support, power and strength to stand up and say the same thing.
As part of its mission to contribute in the building of a new world in which people are bound by their common humanity, New Dawn Vision organizes in collaboration with the Convention for Pan-Africanism and Progress (www.cpp-ubuntu.org) periodic meetings to achieve this goal. Its next conference has been scheduled for October 23, on the topic: The BRICS and Regional Economy Integration.
Chairman of the Committee on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and African Peer-Review Mechanism (APRM) of ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr., said fact-finding missions of the parliament can be debated on at plenary and a resolution taken, then sent to the Commission for onwards submission to Authority of Heads of States.
According to him, an understanding of the relevant provisions of the Supplementary Act is therefore supported both by practice (regular consideration of the regional political and security situation, fact-finding mission, conflict mediation, among others) and by the provision of Article 41 Paragraph (2) of the Supplementary Act which states that.
Chapter V special provisions, “in exceptional circumstances and in conformity with Community objectives, the Parliament may by Resolution request the President to activate the mechanism for conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security”.
In a statement, he noted that, having read a news article published by the online news outlet, Ghanamp.com, under the caption, “Peace and Security not included in ECOWAS Parliament’s enhanced powers”, I feel obliged to issue this rebuttal as Chair of the Committee on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and African Peer- Review Mechanism of the ECOWAS Parliament.
Rt. Hon Speaker Tunis left and chairman of Political Affairs right
The ECOWAS Parliament was established under Article 6 and 13 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty of 1993. The Protocol relating to the Parliament was signed in Abuja on 6 August 1994 and entered into force on 14 March 2002. It provides for the structure, composition, competences, and other matters relating to the Parliament. In December 2016, the Supplementary Act relating to the Enhancement of Powers of the ECOWAS Parliament was adopted. This further strengthens the operations of the Parliament, including its objectives and competences.
Article 4 of the Supplementary Act spells out the objectives for which the Parliament was established. Article 4 Paragraph (a) charges the Parliament to contribute to the efficient and effective implementation of the objectives and policies of the Community. That confers upon the Parliament the moral obligation to contribute to and support the Community Strategic Framework and the ECOWAS Vision, of which peace and security is a key component.
Specifically, Article 4 Paragraph (d) states that the Parliament was established to contribute to the promotion of peace, security, and stability in the West African region. It states further, in Article 4 Paragraph (e), that the Parliament would promote and defend the principles of human rights, democracy, the rule of law, transparency, accountability and good governance. With these clearly laid out objectives, one cannot divorce regional peace and security from the powers of the Parliament.
Furthermore, Article 7(d) states that “Parliament may consider any matter concerning the Community, in particular issues relating to Human Right and Fundamental Freedoms and make recommendations to the institutions and organs of the Community. In this regard, it may constitute committees of enquiry and may mediate on the matter. In this case, peace and security are fundamental human rights to which all citizens of the Community are entitled. As such, the Parliament reserves the right, by virtue of this Act, to conduct enquires, fact-finding, and mediation missions when required.
Fact-finding team in Cape Verde
Relating to referrals to the Parliament, there are mandatory and non-mandatory referrals. Peace and Security matters are not among the areas for mandatory referrals as cited in Article 9 of the Supplementary Act. However, Community defense, peace, and security policies are expressly cited as non-mandatory referrals in Article 10 Paragraph (d), which means the option of referring such matters to Parliament or Parliament being involved is still opened.
Moreover, Article 25 Paragraph (D) provides that the Parliament, in order to facilitate its work, may establish Standing Committees. The modalities of the organization and mandate of the Standing Committees shall be provided in the rules of procedures of Parliament. The Parliament, in its Rules of Procedures, established the Committee on Political Affairs, Peace, Security, and African Peer Review Mechanism. It provides that this Committee shall be responsible for matters relating to:
Regional peace, stability and security by seeking to promote and strengthen good neighborliness;
Follow up on the status of implementation of Community Texts on peace, security, democracy, and good governance.
Promotion and consolidation of a democratic system of governance in each Member State as envisaged by ECOWAS declaration of Political Principles adopted in Abuja on 6 July 1991;
Assisting in parliamentary mediation missions aimed at achieving peaceful resolution of disputes among Member States, cooperation between neighboring States and promotion of peace, a catalyst of economic development.
Strengthening cooperation in the area of conflict prevention, early warning, peacekeeping operations, control of cross-border crime; international terrorism, proliferation of small arms and anti-personnel mines.
Contextualizing the above, it’s no gainsaying that the Parliament, through this Committee, must, as a matter of fundamental responsibility, work to ensure that the Community is peaceful and secure.
Evidently, the ECOWAS Parliament, based upon these legal provisions, has established for itself an enviable record of peace keeping and mediation. Parliament, as a matter of parliamentary diplomacy, was involved in the search for peace in the Mano River Union (MRU), where Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia had fragile peace. Parliament also initiated peace talks between the Liberians United Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) rebels and the Liberian Government, mediated the 2018 conflict in the Sierra Leonean Parliament, and many others. Parliament also regularly conducts Fact- Finding Missions prior to elections and ensure its observers are on ground to observe elections across the region.
Notwithstanding these achievements, we are fully aware and agree that the direct elections of members into the Parliament will confer new competences on the Parliament and would transform the Parliament into a truly independent and democratic body, and all efforts are being directed towards achieving that. While we work towards the realization of this democratic legacy, we take pride in the work we do to, as a Parliament, to keep our region peaceful and secure.
Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament and Gambian Parliament
After successfully ending their fact-finding mission in Cape Verde, Speaker of the Community Parliament, Rt. Hon Sidie Mohammed Tunis and his team have landed in the Gambia ahead of their Presidential elections in December, 2021.
A member of the team from the Gambia, Fatoumatta Njai, in a phone interview with Ghanamps.com noted that she hopes the delegation proceeding to the Gambia would look at the signals and compare notes on the two countries, Cape Verde and the Gambia.
“My believe, coming from the Gambia, I think this is a completely different scenarios from the Gambia, what I have seen and from what I have experienced in the Gambia, I think Cape Verde is exemplary”.
Hon Mahama Ayariga
She further pointed out that the mission was an eye opener, the people of Cape Verde are calm, assertive, and they respect democracy and the rule of law as “we met with different stakeholders the presidential candidate’s, government, opposition and independent candidates, they have all said the same thing and express same concerns and satisfactions”.
And added that it is a good sign for democracy for the opposition and the ruling party to agree in their differences and shows that the upcoming elections would be fair and transparent; “they have all given us their assurance, their decisions would be mutually acceptable”.
But indicated that, should they have any query, they would take it to the right place which is the constitutional court. And noted that it is well established and they visited the constitutional court and they also gave them assurance that things would move in a fair, transparent and justly manner.
“It has been a good mission and this is what ECOWAS Parliament should keep doing; it is better to be proactive than to be reactive, the elections mission would serve as early warning and would prevent any chaotic situation from happening”.
Academics, experts in political science and electoral systems, as well as media professionals will animate the various panels, which will be moderated by Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, former President of the ECOWAS Commission.
Two important issues including infrastructure and human development is expected to take center stage in the discussion from the perspective of government and opposition.
This of course comes as no surprise because the two ruling class parties, the Republicans and Democrats are often in lockstep in matters of war and domination. Thus the Biden-Harris administration seems just as intense to stoke war with Beijing as was their predecessors. Responding to a worry from a participant as to whether Biden is as bad as Trump, Sean pointed out that looking at the democrats and republicans is like looking at two sides of the same coin. They are just two parties that represent different wings of the US ruling Class, the US capitalist interest and often taken different routes to the same destination. In a practical example to better explain this, he pointed out that Donald trump kind of pushed for the racist conspiracy in a very open way while Biden on the other hand is more polite in his presentation of the same issue. In a nutshell they both have the same class interest. He culminated by stating: ‘’our organisations must be clear and principled in their opposition to western hegemony, a great power conflict and to a system that places war profits and plunder over the interest of humanity’’.
