ECOPARL NEWSLETTER (status of the community)

No 14/2018 PUBLICATION OF THE FIRST ORDINARY SESSION OF THE ECOWAS PARLIAMENT. MAY 10—30 2018

Brou calls for collaborative support on regional border security by MS President Jean-Claude Kassi Brou of ECOWAS Commission, in his presentation to the Plenary on the Status of the Community, has called for collaborative support among Member States, in order to address issues that border on regional peace and security.

He decried terrorist attacks in some Member States (especially around the Sahel) and the bourgeoning conflicts between herdsmen and farmers, hallmarks of insecurity in the region.

According to him, “2017 was marked by the persistence of some crises that were accompanied by protests. With regard to regional peace and security, coordinated efforts must be made to fight against terrorism in the Sahel zone.”

Brou remarked that “Terrorism remains one of the most significant threats to regional security. Terrorist attacks on defense and security forces, as well as civilian population have intensified in Mali, Niger, Burkina and Nigeria. The attacks resulted in many casualties, caused severe disruption to school and economic activities, displacement of population and food insecuri- Brou calls for collaborative support on regional border security by MS…………………………………………………………………….1 ty.”

He noted that the Commission had carried out G5 Sahel joint Food security: ECOWAS Commission promises appropriate task force operations to fight against terrorism through support measures………………………………………………………………………….2 of bilateral and multilateral partnerships in the region.

Single Currency: ECOWAS sets 2020 for final take-off……….3

He explained that the operations were in addition to the efforts Morocco’s bid to join ECOWAS Community: not yet decided being deployed under the multinational joint task force of the – President Brou……………………………………………………………….4 Lake Chad Basin, adding that Togo, Mali and the Gambia are Brou reports to Parliament on security situation of WA. among other countries faced with regional peace and security Highlights of his Report…………..………………………………………..5 challenges.

Parliament seeks to be consulted on Morocco………………….6

Nonetheless, he observed that despite concerted efforts being Tips for being an effective Legislator Cont………………...……..7 made by the Malian government, security situation remained Speaker swears in three new MPs…………………………………….8 difficult in the North of Mali. Although, plans were underway by the Commission to participate in the International Conference for the Gambia scheduled to hold on May 22, in Brussels,

ECOWAS projects marginal sub-regional economic growth in 2018 – President Brou…………………………………………………..8

he noted. The Conference on the Gambia is aimed at sustaining Imperatives of election monitoring: Involving more MPs in international attention and to support the Gambia’s peace-

the ECOWAS experience………………………………………………….10

building and development priorities.

Pictorials…………………………………………………………………………13

Food security: ECOWAS Commission promises appropriate measures The new leadership of the ECOWAS Commission is poised to take appropriate measures to deal with any situation of food insecurity in West Africa, in the 2017/2018 agricultural year. Mr. Jean Claude Brou made clear this position in the course of his presentation on the implementation of the Community Strategic Framework (2016 -2020), to Parliament at the on-going First Ordinary Session of ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja.

He said that the need for the measures to be taken had become imperative because agriculture is one of the key priority projects of the Commission. He however added that in spite of the low rainfall being recorded in the 2017/2018 farming season, the region is still expected to grow by 3.2 percent this year.

Brou also stated that “the poor rainfall has led to decrease in agricultural production in several Members States. In this respect appropriate measures must be taken to deal with situations of food insecurity in the region.”

The Commission’s boss further said that “Food crisis is related to climate changes, difficulties in rainfall, so we have to react when this situation occurs because food insecurity affects both women and children. This is why we have called on Ministers of Agriculture of the 15 Member States to take decisions, in the bid address the situation. We have already taken steps, but we also have to work closely with Member States. We also need to put policies in place to ensure food security in the practice of agriculture in the region.”

He said that the practice whereby agricultural production is slightly downgraded for cereals in some Sahel countries contributed to food situation within the region.

He revealed that the extra-ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government which held on April 14, had mandated the Commission to take necessary measures to tackle the critical issue of food insecurity.

He also decried the current pastoral situation within the sub-region which he attributed to shortage of rainfall, resulting in early movement of herders and conflicts between herdsmen and farmers.

Cont on pg 5…...

Source: www.leadership.ng

Single Currency: ECOWAS sets 2020 for

final take-off The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean Claude Brou has reported to Parliament that ECOWAS has set year 2020 as the year wherein the Single Currency Protocol will finally takeoff.

Responding to questions and observations on regional issues raised by Members of Parliament at the end of his presentation to the Plenary on the Status of the Community, he disclosed that the Protocol on the Single Currency had

Source: www.westafricancareers.com

been delayed because the Community wanted all

Excerpts from the President of the Commission’s Statement on Morocco:

Member States to be ready and on-board simultaneously.

President Brou however explained that the



“During the 51st Ordinary Summit of the Authority of Head of States and Government (HOSG) in Abuja, an agreement in principle was given for Morocco to join ECOWAS.

Community had retracted on that initial position and decided to do it progressively, going forward. He stated that “The countries that are ready by 2020 will take off and others will join



in a progressive manner. It is achievable, it is already in our Treaty and many attempts (have been) made. The Heads of States have decided to take the bull by the horn and create the single currency by 2020. Decision has been taken, the Heads of States said that they will do it progressively”.

“The hitches in the past were because we wanted to do it at once but now the Heads of States have decided to do it progressively”, he explained.

The ECOWAS Commission Chief however, admitted that it would require a lot of work and synergy between the central banks of all the Member States but expressed his optimism that de-  spite the seeming rigors, it was still an achievable feat.

“I believe this is achievable. We know there are some hurdles to cross, some countries are still asking themselves if they should be part of it but we will cross that hurdle,” he remarked.



“Following that principle, and during the Summit in Monrovia, ECOWAS was asked to carry out a report on the impacts and the possible implications of Morocco joining ECOWAS.” “The report was considered during the 52nd Summit of Head of States held last December in Abuja. We were asked by the Head of States to deepen that report, and a committee was set up including Nigeria, Ghana, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire, to supervise that study. We are at that stage where we are deepening that study. And during the forthcoming meeting of the Head of States, we are going to give them the status report.”

“This issue is being followed closely by the Head of States (and Government), and we will make sure that we do our bit and send the status report to the Heads of States, and work with governments to supervise the study, and submit to the Head of States during their next meeting”.

Morocco’s bid to join ECOWAS Community: not yet decided – President Brou The quest by the Kingdom of Morocco to be part of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is still undecided by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State.

The President of the Commission, Jean Claude Brou, disclosed this information to Members of Parliament at the end of his Status of the Community presentation to the Plenary.

Contrary to reports widely making the rounds, Brou said that the request of Morocco was only agreed to by the Authority, in principle, in 2016 at the 51stSummit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government.

The ECOWAS Commission boss however disclosed that the Authority thereafter, set up a committee to carry out an analysis on the impact and implications if Morocco’s request was to receive accent.

Jean Claude Brou stated that upon the submission of the Committee’s report in 2017 to the next 52nd Summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, they however asked that more research on the implications of that quest be done.

Consequently, Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire were appointed to conduct more in-depth and far-reaching analysis of the implications of Morocco’s proposed membership with ECOWAS. He further stated that the report is billed to be submitted to the ECOWAS Authority at their next meeting in June, 2018.

Jean-Calude Kassi Brou presenting the Commission’s strategic plan as well as a Report of the state of the Community to MPs

Brou reports to Parliament on security situation in WA. ….Highlights of his Report include: 

Extended attacks to country borders severely disrupts academic and economic activities, resulting in many casualties and displacement of the population  Support for fight against terrorism is on the platform of bilateral and multilateral partnerships which operationalized the G5 Sahel joint Task Force  On Mali, the Status Report disclosed that despite the concerted efforts of the government of Mali with partners, security challenges still remain a reality in the north, it however reiterated the Commission’s commitment towards supporting Mali till peace is attained, and particularly as Mali journeys towards her upcoming Presidential elections in July 2018.  On Togo, the Report submitted that the Member State faced varied political upheavals which led to calls from the opposition for constitutional reforms since the last quarter of 2017, a situation that occasioned the appointment by the Authority of Heads of State and Government, of President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana and President Alpha Conde of Guinea as facilitators in finding lasting solutions to the political crises.

 







West Africa’s security situation calls for deep concern to the entire Community Noted the intensified terrorist attacks on defense and security forces as well as the civilian population in many parts of the subregion ECOWAS has made coordinated efforts in places more prone to terrorism attacks, particularly in the Sahel zones of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Nigeria. Others include Guinea Bissau, Gambia and Togo On the Gambia, the Report indicated a progressive improvement in the political and security situation. However, ECOWAS will continue to support the Gambia through the mandate of the ECOMIG and will, on May 22, 2018, participate in the Brussels international Conference on the Gambia aimed at shoring up international support and attention to peace-building and sustainable development priorities of the Gambia.

On Guinea Bissau, Heads of State and Government at an extra-ordinary Summit in Lome, on April 14, 2018 endorsed the appointment of a consensus Prime Minister by Presidential Decree, the reopening of the National Assembly as well as the extension of the ECOMIB mandate till June 30, 2018.

Cont from pg 2……..

He further blamed herdsmen and farmers crisis to be caused by inadequacy in grazing land and urged Member States to imbibe modern method of forage practice, as a proffered solution to the crisis.

Brou stated that although the Commission established regional stock to ensure food security, more would be done to achieve the desired goal. Additionally, he noted that the Commission would come up with regional forest investment as well as guide mobilization of resources for interventions in trans-boundary areas in order to achieve target.

He, however, said that sectorial meeting of Ministers of Security and Livestock held on April 24 – 26, in Abuja, which provided recommendations to prevent and correct conflicts between herdsmen and farmers.

Parliament seeks to be consulted on Morocco Morocco’s membership request: Parliament must make input – Cisse Lo Speaker Moustapha Cisse Lo has called on leaders of the Community to consult the Parliament with regards to the request by Morocco to become an ECOWAS Member State.

In reacting to the presentation by the President of the Commission, Jean-Claude Brou who has reported that the quest was still pending considerations by the Authority of Heads of State and Government, Speaker Cisse Lo observed that the Parliament was still oblivious of the status of that request by Morocco.

Cisse Lo insisted that the decision on Morocco should not be taken at the Commission’s level only or solely by the Authority on Heads of States, stressing that the input of Parliament should and must be sought.

He stated that “There is the issue of Morocco, you need to explain to us the updates. It is something of concern to us: What does ECOWAS want? We have very good relationship with Morocco especially with its Parliament. We as a Parliament, need to be asked what we want so that we can report to the Heads of States”.

“The Heads of State cannot have a closed-door session and take a decision without the input of the Parliament. If this is done then there is no need for the Parliament,” he added.

The Speaker further called on the Commission to look into the appeal by most Members of Parliament regarding the suspension of their colleague, Rui Dia da Sousa.

Cisse Lo urged the ECOWAS Commission to look into the matter urgently, with a view to finding solution to the suspension which has denied the Member of Parliament access to his emoluments.

Da Sousa was alleged to have been involved in a coup which claimed lives in Guinea Bissau.

Speaking to the issue of Members of Parliament’s participation in the ECOWAS election monitoring team, as was raised on the floor by many of his colleagues, Speaker Cisse Lo insisted that the budget for election monitoring must be scaled up, to allow the inclusion of more MPs, so as to foster the effective monitoring of elections. He decried the current practice by the Commission of including only two ECOWAS MPs on election monitoring missions across the sub-region.

Speaker Cisse Lo

TIPS FOR BEING AN EFFECTIVE LEGISLATOR Cont.…..

Develop a Specialty

Vote Your Conscience

You can’t be an expert in all Your constituents sent you to the legislature, and you must repthings. Focus your policy pur- resent them. But you are also a trustee of your entire state. suits so you can do a few tasks very well. Be selective in the bills you introduce. Decide the two

Sometimes a hot issue presents nearly irreconcilable conflicts

among these responsibilities, but you still have to come to a decision and vote.

or three issues you are going to specialize in and make a difference. Don’t try to be all things

Don't Burn Bridges It’s going to happen. You’re going to disagree and become upset

to all people. Pursue committee and sometimes even dislike another legislator. But remember assignments in your areas of in- that today’s adversary may be tomorrow’s ally, so learn how to terest, get appointed to a task disagree without being disagreeable. Don’t react emotionally or

force and help negotiate an issue in anger on the floor to something someone has said. People even if you aren’t the major don’t have to like you, but if they respect you and know you sponsor of a bill. are going to play it straight, you’ll be all right.

Keep Your Word

Be Careful What You Agree To

Ben Franklin was right. Honesty is the best policy in life and in the legislature. A legislator’s effectiveness and reputation are only as good as his or her word. Without truth there can be no trust. If you promise someone your vote, deliver. A good working relationship, whether with your fellow legislators or your constituents, depends on their ability to believe what you say.

The casual co-sponsorship of bills promises minor rewards and major headaches. When in doubt— don’t. Be careful not to let socializing on the floor, friendship and trust come before scrutiny of a bill.

Too often, you’ll end up having to vote against a bill that you’ve signed on to sponsor. One protection is a 24-hour waiting period. No matter how much you like a person and normally trust that person’s views, make sure you understand the bill. Take time to decide.

Source: National Conference of state Legislature

Speaker swears in three new MPs Speaker Moustapha Cisse Lo, in the course of the First Ordinary Session of Parliament 2018, administered the oath of office to three new Members of Parliament from Sierra Leone.

The new MPs who were sworn in include Honourables Sidie Mohammed Tunis, Veronica Kadie Sesay and Shaka Musa Sama.

Meanwhile, with the swearing in of the new Members, the out-going MPs from Sierra Leone were officially exited from the Parliament in accordance with the provisions of the Supplementary Act of the Parliament. They include, Honourables Brimah Conteh, Brima Victor Sidi -Kebbie and Mabinty Fatmata Funnah.

Speaker Cisse Lo, on behalf of the entire Parliament, welcomed the new MPs to the ECOWAS Parliament family and urged them to serve diligently and selflessly as expected so as to promote the emblem of the Parliament in Sierra Leone and across the sub-region.

He also enjoined the newly sworn in MPs to work towards maintaining the set standard as well as promote Sierra Leone among other Member States.

In the same vain, Speaker Cisse Lo equally appreciated the out-going MPs from Sierra Leone for their diligent service and contributions to the Parliament thus far and wished them success in their future endeavors, as the Plenary bade them farewell.

Newly sworn in MPs from Sierra Leone

ECOWAS projects marginal sub-regional economic growth in 2018 – President Brou President Jean-Claude Kassi Brou of the ECOWAS Commission said that the economic growth of the sub-region in 2018 fiscal year will mark a deviation from the past.

While focusing on the economy in his Status Report of the Community to the Plenary, he said although the region recorded average growth of 2.3 percent in 2017 as improvement compared to 2016, economic growth remained low in terms of the population growth rate of 3.5.

He added that the growth rate is expected to be 3.9 percent in 2018, compared to 3.8 percent in 2017 and 3.2 percent in 2016, based on IMF projections (WEO April, 2018).

“The ECOWAS region in the year 2018 is expected to be marked by an improvement of economic growth, when compared to the previous year. In the context of a more favorable global environment, significant progress has been made in the implementation of several Community programs, particularly in the area of economic integration” he remarked.

“Peace and national security, political governance and sectoral policies, continued efforts need to be pursued to address challenges that remained strong, complex and diverse.

The Commission’s boss commended the sub-region for achieving not just economic progress, but also marking progress in other activities.

He reported that although the previous year was characterized by drop in prices of certain raw materials, notably Cocoa by -31. 12 percent, improvement in cotton and oil prices was still low.

He further disclosed that the sub-regional economy is expected to grow by 3.2 percent this year compared to 2.3 percent in 2017 and 0.2 percent in 2016.

Brou said that Nigeria as the largest economy in the sub-region is expected to record a growth rate of 2.1 percent in 2018, as against 1.6 percent recorded in 2017 and -0.8 percent in 2016.

He projected that improvement should be expected in the average growth rate within the year with 3.2 percent against 2.3 percent in 2017, due to robust growth by some Member States.

He explained that six Member States are expected to record growth rate equal to or above 6 percent this year and those include Cote d’ Ivoire :7.9 percent, Burkina Faso: 7.0 percent, Senegal: 7.0 percent, Ghana: 6.1 percent, Benin: 6.1percent and Sierra Leone: 6.0 percent.

Newly constructed Nigeria-Benin Joint Border Post

Imperatives of election monitoring: Involving more MPs in the ECOWAS experience Attaining genuine democratic elections, generally adjudged free and fair and acceptable to most, has been a source of major interest to international organizations, electoral institutions, and citizens the world over. Little wonder the act of election monitoring has become a critical aspect of the electoral process in many political climes, an act which gages the degree to which the principles guiding the application of democratic ethos before, during and after an election process are respected by stakeholders and all parties involved. This situation is, no less, the case in Member States of the sub-region and with the ECOWAS as a regional bloc.

Consequently, ECOWAS as a body had since bought into that universally accepted practice, applying the accepted common code for election monitoring as was endorsed years ago by many international bodies. With each looming Presidential and Parliamentary election in any Member State, ECOWAS uses its internal mechanisms to constitute an ECOWAS election monitoring team, usually led by a former peer of the Authority of Heads of State and Government. However, this team is usually characterized by diversity and inclusion, with its membership drawn from varied sectors of the society, spanning from technocrats, the academia, the political sphere, to the organized civil society, et al.

This civic duty of constituting election observer teams is one that is more of a moral than constitutional requirement and because it has become an idea owned by almost every believer in democracy, therefore, replicates itself amongst many international organizations such as the African Union, Council of Europe – Parliamentary Assembly, Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the United Nations, etc. Civil society organizations, both at the local and international levels are also not left out of it and so play crucial roles of observing the roles played by actors that midwife these elections and thereafter, issuing resounding statements to that effect.

The ECOWAS Parliament’s Supplementary Act clearly provides in Chapter V, Article 41 (3) that: “The President of the Commission shall ensure the inclusion of the Parliament in all stages of election monitoring in Member States”. However, since the Supplementary Act is silent on the number of MPs to be included in the ECOWAS election monitoring team, strongly advocates for a scale up in the number of MPs to be involved in the ECOWAS election monitoring team.

It is against this backdrop that the ECOWAS Parliament at the on-going 2018 First Ordinary Session in Abuja, made a compelling case for this and posited that the importance and impact they bring to bear on the activity cannot be overemphasized.

For instance, in the first and second legislatures, Members of the Parliament were included to monitor elections across the subregion. However, over time the number declined to just two MPs as at the last Presidential elections in Sierra Leone.

In the recently concluded parliamentary intervention mission following the political misadventure that was playing out in the chambers of the National Assembly of Sierra Leone, Speaker Moustapha Cisse Lo with the Members of the Bureau, in their wisdom, took a quick decision to intervene by constituting a 3 -man team of MPs whose terms of reference was to mediate and find solutions to a looming political debacle in the country.

From the foregoing, it is axiomatic that the Community should bequeath to the Parliament, a vital and engaging role in the ECOWAS election monitoring mission, particularly, parliamentary elections in the region. This may just be a panacea to any outcome of crisis after an election rather than relying on these Members of Parliament to intervene and quell the crisis that is best avoided. Is it not a popular and acceptable saying that ‘Prevention is better than cure’?

A cross section of Commissioners from the Commission and delgates during the Presentation of the Status of the Community Report

A cross section of Commissioners from the ECOWAS Commission

Back roll, H.E. Hon. Moustapha Cisse Lo (Speaker ECOWAS Parliament) presiding over the presentation of the Status of the Community Report. As the President of the Commission Jean Claude Brou, takes note.

Cross section of Parliamentarians

Some Commissioners of the ECOWAS Commission and the Director of Cabinet of the President Brou

President Brou responding to the questions from Parliamentarians

Other Commissioners of the ECOWAS Commission

President Brou flanked by Parliament Speaker Cisse Lo

Hon. Shehu Garba (Nigeira), commenting after the presentation of the Status of the Community Report

Guests interacting after Plenary Session on the presentation of the Status of the Community Report

Hon. Baba Sall (Senegal), commenting after the presentation of the Status of the Community Report

Hon. Fredrick Opare-Ansah (Ghana), commenting on the Status of the Community Report

From right, Anna Jegne, Director of Fin. & Admin ECOWAS Parliament, with her colleague from the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Tony Elemelu

Hon. Akpekey Assewouwokan (Togo), reacting after the presentation of the Status of the Community Report

Hon. Filomena Goncalvez (Cape Verde), reacting after the presentation of the Status of the Community Report

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 Adedeji Mapaderun: Graphics Kelvin Nwachukwu: Social Media Posts/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.facebook/ecowasparliament Twitter: @ECOWASParliamnt Youtube: ECOPARLTV