News:
March 8, 2021
Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Rt. Hon Speaker Sidie Mohammed said there is hope for having a female Speaker of the West African sub-regional Community Parliament after twenty years of existence.
According to him considering inauguration of the fifth legislature in Niger, there was a stroke of luck as two females were in competition for the position of third deputy speaker.
“There was a very serious competition for the position of a third deputy speaker, so there is hope if we continue to give support to women and we continue to encourage women to participate in politics. You never know the sixth legislature can produce a woman to serve as a speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament”, he said in an interview.
He also indicated that in the current parliament, his vision has been to bring parliament close to the ECOWAS citizens and in delocalised meetings to the various member states, “we bring women to the forefront and I continue to engage national Assemblies across the sub-region to give us more women”.
And added that he was in Togo, had three meetings with their Speaker of National Assembly to encourage her to give the Community Parliament at least two additional women to make up for the gaps currently in the parliament.
Again, he pointed out that there would be efforts as much as possible to bring to light the reason why they need more women in politics.
“We plan to change the narrative, we would ensure that we bring the parliament to the people, we ensure that we hold governments accountable for democracy, human rights and other things. We no longer as a parliament be a rubber stamp parliament, where we see things going wrong and will not say anything. We go out there because we have the mandate to do so, and we need partnership with the media, the fourth estate and with your support I believe we can succeed”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com