Akufo-Addo Opens ECOWAS Parliament

President Nana Akufo-Addo, on September 29, is to declare the High-level Interactive Parliamentary Seminar of the ECOWAS Parliament officially open in Winneba, Central Region after his keynote address as the Special Guest of Honour.

The Parliamentary Seminar, to be held under the theme: “The Challenges of Tenure Elongation and Unconstitutional Regime Change in West Africa – The Critical Role of the ECOWAS Parliament”, will be attended by all the Members (MPs) of the ECOWAS Parliament, officials of the ECOWAS Commission as well as other key stakeholders.

The High-level Interactive Parliamentary Seminar would be followed by the Extra Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament, expected to end in the first week of October, also in Winneba, in the Effutu Constituency of the Central Region.

This would be the second time the ECOWAS Parliament is agreeing on Winneba as host town for such a high-level seminar and Extra Ordinary Session.

With barely two weeks to the event date and the expected arrival of the sub-regional guests, there is a high euphoria in the Effutu Constituency as traditional authorities, hotels and tourism sectors as well as residents are geared up to treat the guests to the best of Ghanaian hospitality.

The Leader of Ghana’s delegation at the ECOWAS Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who doubles as Member of Parliament for the Effutu Constituency said preparations are complete for the Seminar.

“Yes I can confirm that myself as MP, our chief; President of the Effutu Traditional Area, Neenyi Ghartey VII and our traditional leaders, the Minister for Central Region, Hon. Justina Marigold Assan and all the good people of Effutu are welcoming the ECOWAS Parliament with both hands and would further serve as a spring board for other meetings of such international caliber.

“Every necessary arrangement has been made and we are grateful for the support from every stakeholder that has helped in the planning and preparations so far. We wish our visiting team a happy stay and very fruitful deliberations,” Afenyo-Markin noted.

He explained that hosting the Seminar and Sessions outside Accra, the capital, would allow member states not only to connect to build consensus towards ECOWAS development but also an opportunity to travel outside the capital city to familiarise themselves with neighbouring countries.

Afenyo-Markin continued: “We cannot always over-concentrate in the capital cities, we need to move out and spread opportunity to the people.”