March 16, 2019

Secretary General of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, John Azumah has said the institution is committed to revolving the recurring crisis between herdsmen and farmers in the sub-region.

According to the Secretary General of the sub-regional Community Parliament, representatives of the people are burdened by the issue of clashes of herdsmen and farmers and other related reports of communal violence within the sub-region.

He revealed this in an interview with journalists at the end of an Extra Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Parliament held in Dakar, Senegal.

“Parliament has a very big role especially the members who have the opportunity to meet with the concerned communities and to be able to explain the other side of the story”.

He further pointed out that the situation could be mitigated if members of Parliament up their game and constantly provide information to the communities they meet constantly that are involve in these activities.

Again, as a body that has vast experience in conflict resolution in areas such as Mano River Union in 2012, resolution of the Liberian civil war, and the issue of Al-Qaeda in Mail, “The Community Parliament, was the only institution that went to the ground to talk to the people, and in addition Parliament has the capacity coming from varied backgrounds with Parliamentarians having over twenty years of experience in conflict resolution’.

Mr. John Azumah further revealed that Parliament would make recommendations to the authorities and the implementing bodies, to look into the matter and resolve the issues, after gathering necessary information and proffering solutions.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com