The Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament, Dr. Sidie Mohamed Tunis is soliciting support from leaders of the sub-region to support direct election of members into the parliament.
He made the call in Abidjan at a courtesy visit to the Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and the Diaspora of Cote D’ Ivoire, Her Excellency Madame Kandia Kamissoko Camara during the Delocalized Meeting of the Joint Committee in the country.
In a statement made available to Channel Network Afrique, CNA, the speaker and his host exchanged views on various matters of mutual interest, including the direct election of Members to the ECOWAS Parliament, regional integration, peace, security and energy conservation in the context of West Africa’s economic development.
The statement noted that the two leaders expressed admiration for Parliament’s visibility drive and highlighted the benefits that go along with hosting meetings outside the seat of Parliament, Abuja, Nigeria.
Dr. Tunis, said his paramount goal for the Fifth Legislature of the Parliament is to achieve the direct election of members to future Legislatures of the ECOWAS Parliament stressing only a directly elected Parliament can gain democratic powers and confer new competences on the Community, which will be regarded as the political will of the people.
The speaker decried the prolonged transition the Parliament is currently undergoing and solicited the Minister’s support for his direct universal suffrage agenda when the proposal arrives at the ECOWAS Council of Ministers.
“The major advantage of direct election of representatives is that it guarantees that the people have the ultimate choice on what will benefit the entire Community.
“Similarly, citizens know exactly who their representatives are.
“This will allow the ECOWAS citizens to have ownership of decisions made within our region.
“When people know that they are being heard and making a difference, they are much more inclined to care about what is going on in their country”, he said.
He also used the occasion to express his admiration for the show of reconciliation exhibited by His Excellency Alassane Ouattara in initiating a meeting with his immediate predecessor, Former President Laurent Gbagbo noting that not only that the meeting will helped eased the political atmosphere in the country, but a display of openness, dialogue, and reconciliation.
Dr.Tunis further urged Political Leaders and supporters of political parties in the West African state to emulate the examples of both leaders adding that Cote D’ Ivoire’s peace is tied to peace in the West African sub region.
For her part, Minister Camara assured the Speaker of her commitment to work closely with the Parliament.
She however, expressed joy over the inclusion of a female in the Bureau of the Parliament, stating that it is a demonstration of the ECOWAS Parliament’s commitment to gender equity.
While emphasizing the Parliament’s role in regional peace and stability, the Minister welcomed the push for direct elections of members to the institution, asserting that there could be nothing more democratic than having a Parliament that is truly a representation of the democratic wishes of the peoples of the community.
She applauded the Speaker for his rare push for direct elections to the parliament, pointing out that it is uncommon to have a leader, who was not elected, pushing for elections into the institution he heads.
On energy, Madame Camara affirmed that the government of Cote D, Ivoire takes seriously the issue of energy as it is tied to the economic development, security and wellbeing of not only the citizens of Cote D’ ivoire, but citizens across the region disclosing that Cote D’ Ivoire is a source of electricity for neighbouring countries, including Ghana, Mali, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
She expressed optimism that the delocalized meeting will yield the expected results and recommendations that will be considered across the region.
The Speaker’s delegation included the Second Deputy Speaker, Madame Ibrahima Maimouna of Togo, Head of the Ivorian Delegation to the Parliament, Madame Adjaratou Traore Coulibaly, Honorable Mahama Ayariga of Ghanan and Honorable Moussokoura Chantal Fanny of the Republic of Cote D, Ivoire.
