January 27, 2021

A member of Ghana’s delegation to the fifth Legislature of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Clement Kofi Humado has lamented over the high attrition rate being experienced.

According to him direct election of the Community lawmakers would help address the high attrition rate being experience by the lawmaking wing of the ECOWAS.

In an interview, he noted that the current practice where National Parliaments nominate representatives, only for those same individuals to be appointed as ministers have to be replaced.

And further pointed out a phenomenon where within the fifteen member states that form the ECOWAS Parliament, within the life span of the fourth Legislature, Togo would have to go for an election the first year, only to be followed by Mali the following year, and then Ghana.

“If we go for the direct adult universal suffrage, there would be uniformity; that is every four years it is more manageable and predictable where lawmakers would be elected to represent citizens of the Community”.

Mr. Humado is Ghana’s representative on the Ad Hoc Committee set up under the current fifth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament to draw a road map towards direct elections.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com