News:
Hon J. H. Zargo
July 25, 2023
Vice Chairman of the Community’s Parliament Committee on Trade, Customs and Free Movement Stephen J. H. Zargo, has said it would be a welcoming news should the West African sub-region have an independent electoral body.
According to him as the sub-regional bloc moves towards one currency and Free Movement of people, having an independent electoral body for the sub-region that will take care of election issues in the sub-region would be a great and welcoming idea; but the composition should be such that it will reflect the aspiration of the sub-region.
He further pointed out that there is the need for such a body because when one looks at the conflict within the sub-region it’s as a result of electoral related issues.
“So if those are the reasons for the conflict in Africa, I think if ECOWAS does that she would be doing it in the right direction”.
He further pointed out that if the Community court will be empowered to take care of election related issues if it’s beyond member states that will be good news, because it’s a practice within the European Parliament. “We need to adopt it since we have an apex court in member states which decisions are final”.
“So, we should have a court of the sub –region for people to seek redress when they are not satisfied; and at the same time we should have a standing force to intervene on issues if there is a problem like in the Gambia. The intervening force should step in and that same force should be able to operate in Ghana and Nigeria who are bigger countries in the sub-region”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com