News:
Jonathan L. Kaipay – ECOWAS MP
October 16, 2021
For Mr. Jonathan L. Kaipay, a member of the Liberian delegation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, electing lawmakers to the parliament would give it more weight.
According to him it would further give the parliament more opportunity and strengthen its oversight responsibility and independency.
“I think it is something that we need to strive for and at the end of the day it is something that the Speaker want to achieve, and it is something that we would want to see happening and would make the legislative arm of the ECOWAS Parliament more independent”.
Again, with that, the Parliament can look at the budget, carry out debate on it, and look at reforms. Example the parliament can site for three months, probe into issues and find answers to questions; “as it is now, how many actions can we take, we should get the citizens involve in electing their leaders”.
Mr. Jonathan L. Kaipay noted that it is achievable, when in an interview Ghanamps.com wanted to know if its achievable and further added that, it can happen when there is the political will, “as President Nana Akufo-Addo affirms same and other presidents do so we would get there soon”.
In addition, they as Heads of States should join this crusade if we have legislature elected by the people; “they can call each finance minister of member states and inquire why they have not paid their community levy”.
And said, where as in their various national parliaments for a lawmaker to call a finance minister to give answers to financial issues would depend on which of the political divide you belong to.
Mr. Kaipay said he supports the integration process and working towards a full regional integration pointing out that in the case of Liberia after facing the citizens in their country to elect them, they are subjected to election among themselves to get them to the Community Parliament.
And added that in other parliaments MPs to ECOWAS Parliament are selected by the president, “in Liberia we are not a rubber stamp Parliament, it is not the president who determines who comes to ECOWAS Parliament”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com