News:
Chairman Snowe Jr.
July 6, 2023
As the crusade to get Community Parliament lawmakers elected is met with mix reaction, leader of the Liberian delegation Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr. believes the vision is still far from being realised despite it being a good idea.
According to him electing ECOWAS lawmakers does not have a popular view in the Community as those oppose to it talk about its economic implications; that the Community will not be able to foot the bills of lawmakers residing in Abuja-Nigeria and being paid from the Community levy.
The other reason is political, as some governments and people feel that if the parliament is given the leverage they will start interfering in the domestic affairs of some political states; “which some members are not comfortable with. Some also believe that ones the lawmakers are given that sovereignty they will go to the Community Parliament and make decision without fear or favor”.
And Some member states also still believe that if their lawmakers do not believe in the dreams and aspiration of the ruling political party, they will find a way of recalling the person or find a way of disrupting activities on the person at the ECOWAS Parliament.
In a telephone interview, he pointed out that the process of electing MPs is being undermined for the above reasons, “but I am one of those people who believe in the Speaker’s vision and I think it’s even in the treaty of the ECOWAS for the Community Parliament to have its own sovereignty; unfortunately that has not been welcomed”.
Senator Snowe Jr. emphasised, it’s not a popular view and hope the next legislation continue with the crusade of getting MPs elected because it’s in the best interest of democracy in our sub-region.
When questioned by myecowasnewsonline.com if this whole vision will see the light of the day? He noted that, “the sub-region is getting a new breed of leaders and the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of States and Government from Guinea-Bissau, young and dynamic H. E. Umaro Sissoco Embalo, President of Liberia H.E George Weah, Sierra Leone’s H. E. Julius Maada Bio as well as Ghana having its election to elect a new president next year with Nigeria having a new President H. E. Ahmed Tini Bu, “we have a new government, you will have someone who understands the workings of democracy and will not oppose the setting up of the community Parliament to give us that sovereignty; it’s very important for our democracy”.
On whether or not the budgetary allocation for the Community Parliament will not be sufficient to kick start the process of electing MPs, Senator Snowe Jr. pointed out that, fortunately for the parliament we have a Secretary General John Azumah who is a veteran accountant and understands the workings of the parliament, adding that conversation around the topic has revealed that the current budget to the Community Parliament can be used to fund elected legislature.
In addition, elected ECOWAS MPs will want to run day to day affairs in member states, “SG has assured us that with the current budget we do not need additional funds, we can run a successful programme with the budget that we have”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com