MPs Discuss JAK's ECOWAS Chairmanship

President John Agyekum Kufuor's assumption of the Chairman of the Ecowas on Wednesday generated a high pitch interest among parliamentarians, the kind of enterprise the house had hardly witnessed since the beginning of its third session.

Each member had his or her own message for the President, while some advised him on international relations and national issues, others congratulated him but some of them trivialised his appointment and scolded him.

Mr Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, Majority Chief Whip, had issued a statement congratulating the President on his election as Chairman of Ecowas.

He said: "Two years into the administration of President Kufuor, his untiring efforts at ensuring good neighbourliness in particular with the three countries sharing common boundaries with Ghana and the sub-region has caught the attention of his peers.'

His crusade in the areas of peace, stability and development of the sub-region has not escaped the spectacles of analysts.

The Majority Whip said the President leads a country which cherishes "Freedom and Justice", a party that expounds development and freedom adding that these may not amuse people who daily suffer the bullets of guns and the spillage of blood.

"West African needs peace and tranquillity, solutions to our problems which have thrown up in the many conflict areas in the sub-region particularly neighbouring Ivory Coast calls for astute diplomacy and we believe the President would bring tremendous doses of this to bear to ensure ultimate peace."

Mr M.A. Seidu, NDC-Wa Central, said Ghanaians should accept whatever sacrifice the President would make for the sake of the sub-region.

"President Nkrumah was blamed for the sacrifice that he made for the sake of Africa even though we as Ghanaians enjoy the benefits that came out of this sacrifice."

He said the President's election was an honour to the nation as a whole and asked that all Ghanaians supported him.

Mr Norbert Awulley, NDC-Builsa South, called for mechanisms to solve internal conflicts in Ghana.

"The pockets of conflicts in the country are not sending right signals to the international community."

He asked Ghanaians to help the President carry out his task and not to sing his praise when he had just started.

Mr Kofi Attor,NDC-Ho Central, advised Presidential aides against organising press conferences on personal conversations of the President.

He said that attitude undermines confidence and diplomacy among Presidents, especially when serious issues are being solved.

He asked the President to send aides rather than himself on the numerous trips that may come his way adding, "he should resist the temptation of changing flights in the air."

Papa Owusu Ankoma, Majority Leader, thanked members for their advice and suggestions.