Memounatou Urges ECOWAS Reforms Amid Regional Crises
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima, has called for urgent reforms within the regional bloc to address the escalating crises facing West Africa.
Speaking at the 2024 Third Extra-Ordinary Session and Parliamentary Seminar in Lomé, Togo, she stressed that the region, plagued by floods, terrorism, violent extremism, and irregular migration, needs swift action and enhanced budgetary provisions to tackle these challenges.
Ibrahima emphasised the importance of accelerating reforms to uphold democracy and good governance, crucial to realising the vision of ECOWAS’s founding fathers as the bloc nears its 50th anniversary in 2025.
She also commended Togo’s President, Faure Gnassingbe, for his unwavering support for regional integration and women’s empowerment, noting her historic position as the first female Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament as a testament to his commitment.
With irregular migration taking a toll on the region’s youth, ECOWAS faces immense security and economic challenges. The Speaker outlined plans for the session to adopt a 2025-2027 budget and develop pragmatic solutions for regional peace, stability, and progress.
The session will also review the 2023 and mid-term 2024 budgets to ensure alignment with ECOWAS’s development goals. A highlight will be the symposium on “Empowering Women through Financial Inclusion”, organized by the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association, ECOFEPA, aimed at promoting economic opportunities for women.
In his goodwill message, President of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, EBID, Dr. George Donkor, stressed the need for investment in infrastructure and regional cooperation to unlock opportunities and ensure equitable economic benefits for all.
Togolese officials also voiced concerns over human rights violations across West Africa, urging for stronger protections to foster peace and development.
The session, opened by the Speaker of the Togolese National Assembly, Sevon-Tepe Kodjo Adedze, calls for greater focus on social inclusion, economic integration, and stability under ECOWAS’s Vision 2050.
