News:
July 27, 2020
President of the Commission to the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), Dr. Jean Claude Kassi Brou has pledged his outfit’s support to the Community Parliament on Saturday July 25, 2020, at the end of a six days virtual meeting via Zoom.
According to him it is through togetherness, strength and unity that the sub-regional Community can triumph over the evils which have overwhelmed the sub-region and under scored the need to be resolute towards the objectives of regional integration.
In his address via zoom, he gave assurance of ECOWAS Commission and all other institutions standing ready to work together with the Community Parliament to achieve the objectives of the sub-regional Community.
And added that for the Community Parliament to be able to play its role effectively, it has to work in coordination and synergy to revitalize and re-establish its framework for exchange between its standing committees and departments of the Commission, to contribute in a concrete and effective manner to the development and implementation of the Community programmes.
“This should have an impact on our populations and strengthen institutional dialogue, communications, cooperation in a judicious manner to make the ECOWAS area a space of peace, security and development and put to good use the input utility and support Parliament for the visibility of ECOWAS in member states”.
The Commission President emphasised that the Community levy remains the most important sources of income and funding for ECOWAS programmes and activities. However, one of the harmful consequences of the coronavirus pandemic is the significant drop in imports in the region, which necessary affects the mobilization for the community levy.
“As of June 30, 2020 the Community has only succeeded in mobilizing 11% of PC revenue. This is the reason why we ask you to advocate for the mobilization of your respective Parliaments for the timely contribution of your countries to the fruits of the Community levy. As the Commission will include in its filed mission MPs of the Parliament of ECOWAS to reap the fruit of the PC in accordance with the strengthening of inter-institutional cooperation”.
Dr. Kassi Brou further added that the significance of the gathering for the second time in the Extraordinary Session of the fifth Legislature this year is in accordance with the relevant provision of the additional Act relating to the strengthening of the prerogative of the Parliament that the Assembly of Heads of States and Government of the ECOWAS adopted on December 17, 2016.
In its chapter V, relating to the competence and the processes of adoption of the Community Acts, in Article 5 relating to the modalities of participation in the process of the Community Acts which stipulates that; “the Parliament express its opinion when adopting Community Acts either by notice or compliant notice”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com