News:
May 2, 2025
Minority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament and 3rd deputy speaker of the Community Parliament, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, in a compelling address that echoed the aspirations of emerging economies across Africa, the Arab world, Latin America, and Asia, called on parliamentarians of the Global South to embrace parliamentary diplomacy and interregional dialogue as urgent and vital levers for peace, security, and shared development.
Delivering the keynote speech at the Third Edition of the South-South Parliamentary Dialogue Forum, held at the headquarters of the Moroccan House of Councilors, Hon. Afenyo-Markin stressed the importance of regional collaboration in addressing new and interconnected global challenges.
The forum, convened under the theme “Interregional and Intercontinental Dialogues in the Global South: A Vital Lever to Address New Challenges of International Cooperation and Achieve Peace, Security, Stability, and Shared Development,” brought together parliamentary leaders from across continents to explore frameworks for joint legislative action and development partnerships.
“Trust is built when we begin to speak the language of our people, address their concerns, and reconcile perceptions with facts.
Dialogue is the foundation for peace,” the Ghanaian lawmaker declared, urging nations of the South to close ranks in pursuit of inclusive development.
Representing the ECOWAS Parliament at the high-level forum, Hon. Afenyo-Markin used the platform to champion the need for a reimagined parliamentary role – one that transcends borders and engages actively in shaping global economic, security, and migration policies from a Southern perspective.
Key Points from the Address:
* He identified interregional dialogue as an indispensable tool for tackling issues such as rising trade protectionism, inflationary pressures, youth unemployment, terrorism, and migration.
* He warned that failure to prioritize structured cooperation could lead to deeper economic instability, noting that rising global tariffs and shrinking supply chains will disproportionately harm Global South economies.
* Hon. Afenyo-Markin passionately called for the institutionalisation of South-South parliamentary cooperation, proposing that forums like ASSECAA be used to “dispel misunderstandings, foster solidarity, and transform people’s aspirations into legislative action.”
* He paid tribute to His Majesty King Mohammed VI for his leadership in making interregional integration the cornerstone of Morocco’s foreign policy, noting the strategic importance of Morocco’s role in shaping the architecture of Global South cooperation.
Also present at the opening session were Mr. Mohamed Ould Errachid, President of the House of Councillors of the Kingdom of Morocco; Mr. Rachid Talbi El Alami, Speaker of the House of Representatives; and Mr. Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The forum, jointly organised by the House of Councillors and the Association of Senates, Shura and Equivalent Councils of Africa and the Arab World (ASSECAA), runs from April 28–29, 2025.
The ECOWAS Parliament’s presence at the forum underscores its commitment to deepening inter-parliamentary collaboration and shaping global dialogue on peace and development from a West African standpoint.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com