ECOPARL NEWSLETTER (Country report edition )

No 15/2018 FIRST ORDINARY SESSION EDITION - PUBLICATION OF THE ECOWAS PARLIAMENT. MAY 2018

Over 1700 refugees return to Cote d’Ivoire A total of 1755 refugees have returned to Cote d’ Ivoire since May 2016, so said the Country Report of Cote d’Ivoire presented to the Plenary of the First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament holding in Abuja.

Presenting the Report on behalf of the 7-member delegation of MPs from Cote d’Ivoire, Hon. Adjaratou Traore said in fulfillment of President Allassane Dramani Ouattara’s desire to see all Ivorian refugees return home, the government conducted two missions to sensitize refugees and exiles in Liberia from May 3 to May 6, and in Ghana from May 11 to 15, 2016.

The MP explained that these missions helped to restore trust between the refugees and the Ivorian leadership and achieve tangible results, as many of the refugees expressed their desire to return to the country to take part in the ongoing reconciliation exercise, a desire that led to the returnees arriving in large numbers.

According to the Report, the visit to Liberia facilitated the return of 350 refugees, and since May 3, 2016, nearly 1, 755 refugees have returned to Cote d’Ivoire.

On the status of implementation of Community programs and projects, the Country Report disclosed that on March 30, 2017, Cote d’Ivoire adopted a decree, ratifying the Treaty creating the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor between the Governments of the Republic of Benin, the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, the Republic of Ghana, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Togo, which was signed on March 28, 2014, in Yamoussoukro.

In her explanatory notes, Hon. Traore stated that the Treaty relating to the creation of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor was an indication of the willingness of the Heads of State and government of Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria to implement the Abidjan-Lagos motorway project in a joint and concerted manner.

The project, according to the Report, will extend from Lagos- Abidjan Corridor (1st phase), on a 2x3 lane motorway, with separate carriageways over a distance of approximately 1,028 kilometers, to facilitate the movement of persons and goods, consolidate regional integration and increase the dynamism of the economies of the countries in the West African sub-

Over 1700 refugees return to Cote d’Ivoire……………………………………………………………..1 Senegal Resolute on Women and Child Protection ………………………………………………….2 Guinea’s Political and Social Crisis deepen despite economic gains………………………….3 Ghana aspires toward an aid-free economy……………………………………………………………..3 Insecurity: Guinea moves to fight terrorism, arms proliferation……………………………….4 Cote d’Ivoire’s economy, stable since 2017……………………………………………………………..5 Ghana's report points to fishing trawlers & piracy in WA rising maritime security threats……………………………………...……………………………………………….. ……………………. 6 Ghana demarcates grazing areas to address herdsmen, farmers conflicts…………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7 Tips for being an effective legislator Cont………………………..……………………………………….8 Pictorials………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..10 Source: www.unhcr.org

Senegal Resolute on Women and Child Protection Senegal has scaled up protection for children and women with the recent creation of a ministry for women.

Senegal’s delegation of MPs to the ECOWAS Parliament, in their Country Report to the Plenary, announced Senegal’s firm resolve and determination to protect all children in that Member State.

Delivering the Country Report of Senegal on behalf of his compatriots, at the 2018 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. Souleymane Ndoye stated that the country had made adequate provisions for protecting women as well as for their participation in politics.

“Since September 2017, a Ministry for Children has been created, demonstrating the firm determination of the Senegalese authorities to ensure that issues pertaining to child protection are better taken into consideration”, Ndoye said.

He further indicated that “Concerning street children, on 30th June 2016, the government launched a plan to withdraw such children from the street. This plan revolves around three components: withdrawal and reintegration of street children, communication and coordination.”

He added that Senegal already planned to renew the National Children’s Parliament and to Implement programs and projects for withdrawal of street children.

On the women, the MP explained that the Gender Equality Act adopted in 2010 has helped to strengthen women’s participation in decision-making bodies and contributed to an increase in their representation to 69 women out of 165 members of the National Assembly of Senegal.

He added that in terms of local governance, a massive number of women were appointed Councilors in 2014, at an overall average rate of 47.2 percent, which represents 13,103 women out of 27,760 Councilors.

He indicated that “In the specific context of ECOWAS, it should be noted that social programs have been implemented with the assistance of the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre based in Dakar.

“To build on the democratic gains, it is imperative to support women and young people who constitute the largest segment of the population”, he remarked.

Still pertaining to the women, Hon. Ndoye ended on a note of appeal to Members, saying that “the Senegalese delegation strongly recommends that ECOWAS Parliament and its honorable Members endeavor to ensure that public authorities give women greater attention and responsibilities”.

“Concerning street children, on 30th June 2016, the government launched a plan to withdraw such children from the street. This plan revolves around three components: withdrawal and reintegration of street children, communication and coordination.”

Guinea’s Political and Social Crisis deepen de- Ghana aspires toward an aid-free economy spite economic gains…….

The Republic of Guinea has continued to witness continuous political and social crisis despite having a stable and progressive economy. This formed part of the Country Report of Guinea, presented to the Plenary, at the 2018 First Ordinary Session of the sub-regional Parliament at the Seat of Parliament, Abuja, Nigeria.

‘Economic activities in the first quarter of 2018 in Guinea remained stable’, reported Guinea’s delegation of MPs to the Parliament, who detailed that the economy had been characterized by better tax revenue mobilization, a controlled increase in public spending and almost zero net fiscal financing by the Central Bank. The Report stated that economic growth appreciated, mainly driven by the increase in mining production, acceleration of construction activities in the hotel industry and energy, as well as good agricultural performance.

However, the economic prosperity did not result in political stability as Guinea recorded series of political, social and governance crisis for several years, resulting in the degradation of its socio-economic situation.

Ghana is aiming for an aid-free economy through the harnessing of its resources for better and evenlyspread development.

This is contained in the Ghana’s Country Report presented by Hon. Frederick Opare-Ansah at the Parliament on-going First Ordinary Session, holding in Abuja.

He said the Country embarked on this policy cognizant of the fact that there is international donor fatigue hence the need to look inwards..

The MP informed that this aspiration has led the government of Ghana to set out five pillars of focus under its ‘Ghana Beyond Aid’ program, to harness the country’s domestic resources for developmental purposes.

The Report to Parliament outlined the pillars to include: Enhancing domestic revenue mobilization, encouraging high private savings expanding financial inclusion, increasing transparency and accountable use of public resources and innovative leveraging of the country’s mineral resources beyond the current conventional model of royalties and taxes.

The Report to Parliament noted that Guinea’s political crisis was mainly occasioned by the contest of announced results of the February 2018 local elec- While responding to enquiries from the MPs, Hon. tions and a social crisis caused by the teachers’ Opare-Ansah said Ghana had always indicated its instrike. terest to exit the IMF program, explaining that after

Hon. Yaya Traore who presented the Country Report on behalf of the delegation, informed the Par- all, the Member State had pulled out of the program in liament that the crisis shook the country and the past, but for the global economic recession of plunged many families into mourning.

2007/2008, which necessitated its return to the insti“Indeed, local elections-related violence has already caused the death of seven people and significant material damaged in Guinea, not leaving the damage caused on the educational sector”, he stated.

tution.

He however stressed that the recent growth in the country’s economy influenced government’s decision to not re-enter into any such arrangement with the He however expressed the conviction of the Presi- IMF.

dent of the Republic to deploy dialogue in the resoOpare-Ansah also clarified misconceptions on Ghana’s lution of the crisis.

He explained that President Alpha Conte believes that with dialogue, Guineans can understand one another better, a belief that prompted the tripartite meeting which held between the opposition leader, the ruling party and the Union of Republican Forces, to discuss national issues and proffer solution to the way forward.

ratification of the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with the United States saying the protest held

by Ghanaians and opposition parties regarding the agreement was not in opposition of the DCA but premised on the fact that certain essential processes were skipped to achieve the deal.

Insecurity: Guinea moves to fight terrorism, arms proliferation The government of the Republic of Guinea has scaled up efforts to fight terrorism, arms proliferation and trafficking of arms, drug and children.

Guinean lawmakers and delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament disclosed this at the First Session of the Parliament in Abuja.

Presenting the country report of Guinea, Hon. Yaya Traore told the Legislative Arm of ECOWAS that the problems had persisted and measures adopted to curb it had neither been sufficient nor consistent.

“This in turn has gave rise to drug trafficking, trafficking of small arms, money-laundering and child trafficking which are prevalent in the sub region.

“Insecurity in Guinea is growing both on roads, and in urban centers.

He said that the spate of kidnapping was on the increase while citizens are being lynched as instant justice was beginning to gain grounds in the country.

He however informed the Parliament that the government of Guinea was adopting strategies that would help combat terrorism financing and organized crime through legislation.

“This is the law against the financing of terrorism, cybercrimes, money laundering and the fight against corruption and related practices.

He stated that Guinea remains firmly committed to the fight against insecurity and strive for better security state, bearing in mind that human right; respect and security of Guinean is respected.

Source: www.globalriskinsights.com

Cote d’Ivoire’s economy, stable since 2017 The economy of Cote d’Ivoire has remained buoyant and had withstood terms of trade shocks and social tensions in the past year. This was posited in the Country Report of the Member State as presented to the Plenary of the ECOWAS Parliament sitting at Abuja, Nigeria.

The Report presented by Hon. Adjaratou Traore informed that real GDP growth stood above 7.6 percent in 2017 and the risks associated with the economic outlook are broadly balanced.

“Inflation remained moderate whereas budget deficit was contained at 4.5 percent of GDP in 2017”.

It also disclosed that authorities have made and are continuing to make progress in the implementation of the structural reforms, including program-based budgeting and streamlining of expenditure chain, strengthening of investment management and monitoring of fiscal risks associated with public enterprises and public-private partnerships (PPS).

“The government of Cote d’Ivoire has accelerated essential structural reforms to sustain private sector-led economic development in order to boost growth and strengthen its regional economic role”, the Report stated.

Additionally, it disclosed that “Inflation is low thanks to a fixed exchange rate regime owing to the country’s membership of the CFA Francs Zone. It stood at 0.5 percent in 2017, against 1.2 percent in 2016 and 0.4 percent in 2015.

“Average inflation rate at the end of August 2017 stood at 1.7 percent below the Community convergence threshold of 3 percent set by ECOWAS”, the Report disclosed.

Furthermore, it stated that budget deficit reached 4.5 percent of GDP in 2017 and is expected to meet the UEMOA regional convergence criterion of 3 percent of GDP in 2018, which anticipates large public investment and lower than expected tax revenues.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Ghana's report points to fishing trawlers & piracy in WA rising maritime security threats Maritime terrorism by way of piracy as well as the activities of fishing trawlers, are gaining new grounds in the West African sub-region.

The activities of these elements have endangered the livelihood of legitimate fishermen in the West African coast, caused loss of lives, become a drain on the economies as well as caused disruption in communication and internet services around the ECOWAS subregion.

Above assertion was posited by Ghana’s 8-member delegation of MPs to the ECOWAS Parliament, in the Country Report presented to the Plenary at the 2018 First Ordinary Session of the Parliament, by Hon. Opare-Ansah Frederick.

Ghana’s Report revealed that the activities of fishing trawlers who engage in ‘pair trawling’ in the West African coast, where they move out a distance and ‘sweep the sea’ with their larger net, leave the local fishermen nothing to harvest, a situation that leads to an inevitable loss of livelihood.

The Report indicated that the trawlers, whom it likened to the marauding herdsmen plundering some parts of the sub-region because they are usually heavily armed, often come all the way from east Africa and upon clashing with local fishermen around the West African coast, leave a trail of deaths of the locals.

It revealed that Ghana has witnessed a plunder of fishery resources as well as maritime terrorism within the recent three months and recorded five piracy attacks on its territorial waters. One of the attacks led to the sea-jacking of Ghana’s flag fishing vessel Marine 711, the Country Report noted.

It further stated that the additional dangers of pirates operating on the West African seas affect the communication submarine fiber optic cables laid across the West African coast, thereby disrupting voice communication and internet connectivity within the sub-region.

The Report advocated a regional approach of establishing the early warning systems as being the best means of addressing the problem. Ghana, it said, has responded via the establishment of special units in its Counter Terrorism Rapid Response Unit of the Armed Forces and the Naval Command Unit. It averred that the security issue if left unchecked as a bloc, will spread and engulf the entire sub-region.

“If it happened that Ghana chases them out, do you think they would leave the region entirely? No. If they think the waters of Togo is easier for them, they would move there. If they think Cote d’Iviore is easier and unprepared, they will move there. Clearly, it calls for a regional approach than an individual countries approach,” the presenter, Hon. OpareAnsa cautioned.

Ghana demarcates grazing areas to address herdsmen, farmers conflicts Ghana has set aside demarcated grazing areas as part of efforts to resolve herdsmen and farmers clashes in the country. This information formed part of Ghana’s Country Report to the Plenary, presented by Hon. Fredrick Opare-Ansah at the on-going 2018 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja.

The Report, referring to the issue of transhumance conflict rife in many West African countries currently, stated that Ghana setout demarcated special grazing areas for the nomadic herdsmen in the country as a panacea to the recurring herder/farmer clashes. It appealed for the accommodation of the nomadic herders who traverse the sub-region in search of fodder, since it has become a reality occasioned as an outcome of the regional integration Protocol on free movement.

The Report specifically revealed that to resolve conflicts arising from clashes between the nomadic herdsmen and farmers, the Ghanaian government had demarcated special units for herders to graze their cattle.

However, it explained that unlike the Nigerian government’s proposal which sought to set up ranches by carving our lands from around the country for the herdsmen to settle and graze their cattle, Ghana has only provided the herdsmen a place where they graze seasonally and move on.

Ghana’s presenter, Hon. Opare-Ansa clarified and stressed that “the key word, is nomadic, meaning they are not settling. And so, we don’t expect it to become a settlement for people grazing their cattle. We expect that it is a seasonal thing.

These nomadic folks are coming largely from the northern Sahelian portions of the region. So, when conditions in their own areas are good, they don’t graze so low into the forest Savanna belt of the country. However, when conditions become so dry up there, they will graze as low as into the forest of the Savanna belt of Ghana, and that is what this arrangement is designed to take care of”.

The Report added that Ghana’s government has put in place a compensation mechanism for those whose land would be utilized for the grazing project.

Source: www.agricghana.com

TIPS FOR BEING AN EFFECTIVE LEGISLATOR Cont…..

Stay in Touch With Your Constituents

Don't Hog the Mike When

you

make

a

speech on the floor, always prepare in advance and make sure that

your

something

topic that’s

is im-

portant to you. Don’t talk about everything.

Even if you are an ex-

Communicate with your constituents. This is an overwhelming task, but it’s critical. Return phone calls, answer e-mails and letters, have town meetings. Let them know who you are, that you’re approachable and responsible, that you represent them. Besides, it makes the job a lot more interesting if you really know the people you represent. It’s difficult to build a bond with your constituents simply through press releases.

Be a Problem Solver

Work With the Media

pert in everything, you Controversial, even inflamma- Don’t assume the media are your adverrisk wearing out your tory issues will arise in your sary. Reporters have a responsibility to in-

welcome if you feel district. Use your skills and form the public, and they take it seriously. your office to help the commuthe need to hold forth Be proactive. Contact reporters regularly to on every bill. Sometimes, the most effective legislator is the one who speaks only three or four times during the session. Yet when he does, all eyes are on him and everyone listens.

nity find solutions. Whether it’s the location for a new prison or closing a school, work with the state agencies and local governments to find the best solution. Don’t take sides on clearly local issues, but serve as a resource for information to help find the best solution.

tell them about your position on issues and the work you are doing. Focus on the policy process and the issues, not on partisan differences and conflict. Present information that is easy to understand and use.

Know your local newspapers’ deadlines.

Call writers back promptly. Don’t expect them to use your press releases if you avoid their phone calls.

Stop and Smell the Roses In politics, it’s a struggle to maintain a normal private life. Politicians can be tempted to take family members for granted, to treat them as appendages, decorations on campaign literature, free help when envelopes need to be licked. Sometimes it’s difficult to resist self-importance. The grand responsibilities and acclaim that come with holding public office can be unhealthy substitutes for reflection, ordinary friendships and meeting the simple responsibilities of life. Don’t forget to take care of yourself. Eat right. Exercise. And make time for yourself.

Source: National Conference of state Legislature

MPs in a discussion after Country report

Hon. Goncalves from Cabo Verde having the floor

Honourables, Mohammed Lafia & Dickson Tarkighir (Nigeria), in a chit chat

Hon. Adja Camara Pinto presenting the Guinea Bissau Country Report

Hon. Stephen Zargo from Liberia

(Back row) 3rd Deputy Speaker, Prince Yormie presiding over the Plenary, (Front row) 2nd Dep. Speaker, Aminata Toungara

Hons. Parfait Houangi & David Gbahoungba from Benin Republic

MPs from Cabo Verde looking through a document

MPs perusing a document

MPs felicitating with Hon. Brima Kebbie as his tenure ends in the ECOWAS Parliament

Hon. Bida Abdouramani making a submission after Country Report presntation

Cross section of MPs

EDITORIAL TEAM

Publisher: Moustapha Cisse Lo (Hon. Speaker) Editor in Chief: John Azumah (Secretary General) Editor: Uchenna Duru (Ag. Chief Communication Officer) CONTRIBUTORS/AD HOC STAFF

Ifeanyi Nwoko: Contributing sub editor Philip Nyam: Contributing sub editor Onyinye Stephanie Oguego: Writer Chinelo Chikelo: Writer Stanley Nwankwo: Writer AdedejiAdewale Mapaderun: Graphics Ifeanyi Valentine: Writer Ifeanyi Valentine Adewale: Writer Adedeji Mapaderun: Graphics Kelvin Nwachukwu: Social Media /Graphics Chioma Ethel Ejeckam: Social Media Posts Bilkisu Folorunsho : Administration Ekene Akabueze: Administration Facebook Studio: Photography PUBLISHED BY THE DIVISION OF COMMUNICATION, ECOWAS Parliament. Herbert Macaulay Way, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria. www.parl.ecowas.int www.parl.ecowas.int www.facebook/ecowasparliament www.facebook/ecowasparliament Twitter: @ECOWASParliamnt Twitter: @ECOWASParliamnt Youtube: ECOPARLTV Youtube: ECOPARLTV