Members to ECOWAS Parliament are to be elected

Kumasi, Aug. 25, GNA - A new approach towards the effectiveness of the ECOWAS Parliament is that people are going to be elected as ECOWAS parliamentarians with effect from 2010. Mr. Stephen Balado Manu, Leader of Ghana's Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, said citizens of the community other than parliamentarians of the national parliament shall now be eligible to contest to become members of the ECOWAS parliament.

He was addressing a press conference on the new approach to the selection process in Kumasi on Monday. Mr Manu said there was the need for the media to sensitize Ghanaians that come 2010 the eight Parliamentarians who would represent the nation at the ECOWAS Parliament would be elected on their own merit. Mr. Manu, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ahafo-Ano South, said polls would be conducted in a manner similar to that of the national general election and those who would emerge victorious would then become members of the ECOWAS Parliament for a specific term. He said pending when MPs are thus elected, the national assemblies of member states are still empowered to elect members from among parliamentarians and that the duration of the transitional period was subject to the approval of the authority of heads of states and governments.

The MP said it has been observed that the existing system of selection has been deficient in terms of stamping its authority on decisions that affect its peoples. "These deficiencies are seriously militating against the effectiveness and the viability of the house and thus the quality of democracy." Mr. Manu said when they are elected ECOWAS parliament, which now functions as an advisory and a consultative body, would have full power to enact laws for their communities. Mr. Francis Agbotse, MP for Ho West, said due to ignorance on the part of travellers security personnel take advantage of that and extort monies from them. Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, Former Leader of Ghana's Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament and MP for Suame, said it was time for a common policy instituted considering the tumultuous problems and issues affecting the sub-region.