Ghanaian President Asks ECOWAS Leaders To Root Out Terrorism In West Africa

…Urges ECOWAS Parliament To Help Curb Scourge Terrorism,
Insurgency, Banditry, Piracy

The Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government and President of Ghana, Nana
Akuffo-Addo, has called on West African leaders to consolidate
efforts to root out terrorism from the region.

Akuffo-Addo made the call during the opening ceremony of the
2021 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja.

Akuffo-Addo said despite the best efforts in dealing with the
menace by the ECOWAS leaders, there were persistent attempts to
distabilise several countries of the ECOWAS community from attacks
on state symbols, to civilian populations and military bases as has
been the case recently in Niger, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso
and Nigeria.

Akuffo-Addo further said the peace and security, as well as
safeguarding the democratic institutions of member states, were
currently a major challenge for the region.

“We cannot sufficiently reiterate the importance of peace and
stability to the growth and development of our region. It is
important that we consolidate our efforts in rooting out terrorism
and threats of terrorism in West Africa,” Akuffo-Addo said.

Akuffo-Addo further said apart from the people of the region
living in constant fear of uncertainty, the region cannot expect to
attract the requisite levels of investment should the state of
insecurity persists.

He added that the ECOWAS region must take more rigorous actions
in coordinating measures to ensure terrorism was brought to an end
in the region.

Akuffo-Addo also said the region must in the same vein, pay
equal attention to bringing an end to insecurity in the maritime
space in the Gulf of Guinea which is today, the greatest hotbed of
piracy in the entire world.

“This is not a reputation we deserve. And we must work together
urgently to change the narrative,” Akuffo-Addo added.

Akuffo-Addo also said it was well acknowledged that Africa is a
blessed continent, adding that the West African region in
particular is one of the major reservoirs of the richest natural
resources in the world.

He however said the preconditions for the development of the
resources of the continent were peace and security and those of
democracy and good governance.

Akuffo-Addo added that it was of paramount importance that the
parliamentarians endeavour to undertake programmes and activities
that will help curb the scourge of terrorism, insurgency, banditry
and piracy.

“The community expects you to use your relations to help attain
the desire results,” the Ghanaian President further said.

In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, said
while the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and Goods
remained a prized policy, for instance; insecurity, instability,
and conflicts were matters requiring continuous attention.

Lawan added that the freedom to move between member nations was
helpful to sub-regional economic growth, besides increasing the
attendant benefits like job creation, reduction in underemployment,
stimulation of economic multipliers, and better wellbeing.

He further said this can hardly happen in an atmosphere of
strife, cross-border crimes like banditry, insurgency, drug
trafficking, and ceaseless ethno-religious struggles, amidst
others.

“As parliamentarians, we must examine the dimensions associated
with these occurrences towards appropriate interventions. An accord
of purpose between member nations creates the needed synergy for
the actualization of uniform visions.

“The fostering of this uniformity partly rests with us and I am
confident we can accomplish this, despite the limitations of
institutional empowerment. It is possible through consistent
advocacy, and the broadening of understanding on our
objectives.

“Our specific development policies, the focus on cybersecurity
and cyber-crime, our corporate social responsibility projects, the
concern for the safety of critical infrastructures and the
overarching need to ensure the economic prosperity of the region,
by protecting the environment should remain priorities.

“Excelling in these regards takes us closer to achieving the
plan of not just bonding our states, but also our peoples, as
envisioned by our founding fathers. It is a step towards enhancing
good governance, safety and security of citizens consistent with
our legislative mandates.

“For emphasis, this First Ordinary Session for the year 2021 is
also projected to help us chart ways forward in the months ahead,
particularly in engendering cohesion in eliminating terrorism, all
forms of extremism, and the better implementation of trade
agreements and protocols.

“Added to these are the need to focus on irregular migration,
often leading to needless sorrows, pains, and deaths; the fight
against diseases, drought, and the requirement to entrench
transparency and accountability in our governance systems.

“I am additionally assured that we are well prepared to make our
inputs from our individual appreciation of the issues, towards
finding lasting solutions to the challenges.

“It is a responsibility that we bear, and we have to do our
best, God’s willing. Once more, I welcome you all to this session,
and I wish us all a successful deliberation. God bless you all. God
bless the West African Sub-region. God bless the ECOWAS
Parliament,” Lawan said.

On his part, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Sidie Mohamed
Tunis, acknowledged that the task at hand was not going to be
easy.

“It is daunting and can be exhausting, but we derive joy and
passion knowing that it is a noble call to duty. Our people
earnestly yearn for deliverables emanating from our service to
them. To this end, we will continue to strive to improve every
facet of their lives, while also ensuring that our Community
remains integrated and prosperous,” Tunis said.

Tunis further said the parliament has been following closely,
unfolding developments in Mali, recalling the parliamentary
fact-finding mission he led to Mali earlier in the year where he
held discussions with all stakeholders in the transition
process.

He added that despite assurance by all parties of their
commitment towards a transition to democratic rule, unfortunately,
the parliament observed a few days ago, a dramatic shift in the
political situation which led to the arrest of the Transitional
President, Bah N’Daw and the Prime Minister, Mr. Moctar Ouane.

“I wish to emphasize that the ECOWAS Parliament condemns, in the
strongest terms, the military take over in Mali and all acts in the
region that threatens or stalls the process of entrenching
Democracy across our States. We have made many efforts in securing
a peaceful and stable ECOWAS and it is about time we take firm and
decisive actions against forces that tend to reverse this trend.
The ECOWAS Parliament stands ready to support all efforts aimed at
putting Mali on the right trajectory of peace and democracy,” Tunis
also said.

…Urges ECOWAS Parliament To Help Curb Scourge Terrorism,
Insurgency, Banditry, Piracy

The Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government and President of Ghana, Nana
Akuffo-Addo, has called on West African leaders to consolidate
efforts to root out terrorism from the region.

Akuffo-Addo made the call during the opening ceremony of the
2021 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja.

Akuffo-Addo said despite the best efforts in dealing with the
menace by the ECOWAS leaders, there were persistent attempts to
distabilise several countries of the ECOWAS community from attacks
on state symbols, to civilian populations and military bases as has
been the case recently in Niger, Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso
and Nigeria.

Akuffo-Addo further said the peace and security, as well as
safeguarding the democratic institutions of member states, were
currently a major challenge for the region.

“We cannot sufficiently reiterate the importance of peace and
stability to the growth and development of our region. It is
important that we consolidate our efforts in rooting out terrorism
and threats of terrorism in West Africa,” Akuffo-Addo said.

Akuffo-Addo further said apart from the people of the region
living in constant fear of uncertainty, the region cannot expect to
attract the requisite levels of investment should the state of
insecurity persists.

He added that the ECOWAS region must take more rigorous actions
in coordinating measures to ensure terrorism was brought to an end
in the region.

Akuffo-Addo also said the region must in the same vein, pay
equal attention to bringing an end to insecurity in the maritime
space in the Gulf of Guinea which is today, the greatest hotbed of
piracy in the entire world.

“This is not a reputation we deserve. And we must work together
urgently to change the narrative,” Akuffo-Addo added.

Akuffo-Addo also said it was well acknowledged that Africa is a
blessed continent, adding that the West African region in
particular is one of the major reservoirs of the richest natural
resources in the world.

He however said the preconditions for the development of the
resources of the continent were peace and security and those of
democracy and good governance.

Akuffo-Addo added that it was of paramount importance that the
parliamentarians endeavour to undertake programmes and activities
that will help curb the scourge of terrorism, insurgency, banditry
and piracy.

“The community expects you to use your relations to help attain
the desire results,” the Ghanaian President further said.

In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, said
while the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and Goods
remained a prized policy, for instance; insecurity, instability,
and conflicts were matters requiring continuous attention.

Lawan added that the freedom to move between member nations was
helpful to sub-regional economic growth, besides increasing the
attendant benefits like job creation, reduction in underemployment,
stimulation of economic multipliers, and better wellbeing.

He further said this can hardly happen in an atmosphere of
strife, cross-border crimes like banditry, insurgency, drug
trafficking, and ceaseless ethno-religious struggles, amidst
others.

“As parliamentarians, we must examine the dimensions associated
with these occurrences towards appropriate interventions. An accord
of purpose between member nations creates the needed synergy for
the actualization of uniform visions.

“The fostering of this uniformity partly rests with us and I am
confident we can accomplish this, despite the limitations of
institutional empowerment. It is possible through consistent
advocacy, and the broadening of understanding on our
objectives.

“Our specific development policies, the focus on cybersecurity
and cyber-crime, our corporate social responsibility projects, the
concern for the safety of critical infrastructures and the
overarching need to ensure the economic prosperity of the region,
by protecting the environment should remain priorities.

“Excelling in these regards takes us closer to achieving the
plan of not just bonding our states, but also our peoples, as
envisioned by our founding fathers. It is a step towards enhancing
good governance, safety and security of citizens consistent with
our legislative mandates.

“For emphasis, this First Ordinary Session for the year 2021 is
also projected to help us chart ways forward in the months ahead,
particularly in engendering cohesion in eliminating terrorism, all
forms of extremism, and the better implementation of trade
agreements and protocols.

“Added to these are the need to focus on irregular migration,
often leading to needless sorrows, pains, and deaths; the fight
against diseases, drought, and the requirement to entrench
transparency and accountability in our governance systems.

“I am additionally assured that we are well prepared to make our
inputs from our individual appreciation of the issues, towards
finding lasting solutions to the challenges.

“It is a responsibility that we bear, and we have to do our
best, God’s willing. Once more, I welcome you all to this session,
and I wish us all a successful deliberation. God bless you all. God
bless the West African Sub-region. God bless the ECOWAS
Parliament,” Lawan said.

On his part, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Sidie Mohamed
Tunis, acknowledged that the task at hand was not going to be
easy.

“It is daunting and can be exhausting, but we derive joy and
passion knowing that it is a noble call to duty. Our people
earnestly yearn for deliverables emanating from our service to
them. To this end, we will continue to strive to improve every
facet of their lives, while also ensuring that our Community
remains integrated and prosperous,” Tunis said.

Tunis further said the parliament has been following closely,
unfolding developments in Mali, recalling the parliamentary
fact-finding mission he led to Mali earlier in the year where he
held discussions with all stakeholders in the transition
process.

He added that despite assurance by all parties of their
commitment towards a transition to democratic rule, unfortunately,
the parliament observed a few days ago, a dramatic shift in the
political situation which led to the arrest of the Transitional
President, Bah N’Daw and the Prime Minister, Mr. Moctar Ouane.

“I wish to emphasize that the ECOWAS Parliament condemns, in the
strongest terms, the military take over in Mali and all acts in the
region that threatens or stalls the process of entrenching
Democracy across our States. We have made many efforts in securing
a peaceful and stable ECOWAS and it is about time we take firm and
decisive actions against forces that tend to reverse this trend.
The ECOWAS Parliament stands ready to support all efforts aimed at
putting Mali on the right trajectory of peace and democracy,” Tunis
also said.