LIBERIA – Rep. Massaquoi tasks ECOWAS to muster courage, take decisive decisions or stand the risk of losing its essence

Honourable Clarence K. Massaquoi is a legislator at the Liberian National Legislative Branch- House of Representatives who represents District 3, Lofa County said as Nigeria hosts this year’s ECOWAS Summit in Abuja.

Representative Massaquoi while taking a position on a report submitted by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Jean Claude Kassi Brou, he reminded ECOWAS of many failed promises it has made and its low interest shown in security issues affecting member countries.

He named the ECOWAS failure to achieve its single currency goal that was marked under its vision 2020 and frowned on them for abandoning that vision. He also cautioned the ECOWAS Commission to see the need to commission telecommunication companies to lessen the burden on cross-border traders who are challenged with high costs of communication while roaming.

“ECOWAS needs to muster the courage to do what they say they will do or ECOWAS will almost be non-existence,” said.

Rep. Massaquoi believes the ECOWAS region is in a very tight squeeze in terms of its economy, issues of security, and gender. He said the illegal takeover of power in the sub-region through coups has led to the reduction of PM at the ECOWAS parliament because of the ECOWAS failure to intervene in preventing coupes and unconstitutional takeover of powers in the region.

On the review of the ECOWAS 2022 Interim Report and the implementation, Hon. Massaquoi described the failure of the ECOWAS to implement the one currency policy as it was mentioned in the ECOWAS Vision 2020.

Following the 2022 interim report today, Hon. Massaquoi said identifying the root causes of the failure of vision 2020 is a gateway to vision 2050 if ECOWAS truly wants to embark on vision 2050.

The Lofa County Lawmaker on the ECOWAS Parliament called on the president of the commission to involve youth in the design and implementation of Vision 2050. The Lawmaker also added that there is need to reduce the cost of communication in the ECOWAS Nations, and ensure free movement of citizens.

As power struggle is engulfing the security sector in many ECOWAS member nations, Hon. Massaquoi brought to the attention of ECOWAS the crucial need to increase engagements in the security sector and at all levels to ensure peace and unity in the region.

Upon making these thoughtful statements, the Lofa County Lawmaker received overwhelming support as his colleagues of the ECOWAS Parliament buttressed his call to action statements.

Like Rep. Massaquoi, Senator Steve Zargo of Lofa County stressed the need for the establishment of a regional security institution in West Africa which he believes will harmonize training of security amongst members countries.

For his part, Senator Johnathan Kaipay was concerned about programs for youth empowerment in member countries because, according to him, if youths are the future leaders there’s a need to have a regional planned program to empower them.

In a report submitted by Dr. Brou, of the 15 member countries of ECOWAS, two have signed the 2011 Convention 189 on Rights of Domestic Workers while the 2019 Convention 190 on Violence and Sexual Harassment in the Workplace is yet to be ratified by the 15 Member States

On the issues of drug prevention and control, he said, the ECOWAS has sponsored the formation of the West Africa Network of Addiction Treatment Experts to engage drug treatment professionals and improve service delivery to people with drug use disorders.

On the Project to support the Protection of Children victims of Human Rights Violations (PAPEV):

ECOWAS says, the adoption of a declaration calling on Member States to create a safe and just environment for children victims of human rights violations as well as address their legal, judicial and social needs (May 2022).

Meanwhile, ECOWAS has adopted a new road map to launch its single currency in 2027.

Dr Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, President of the ECOWAS Commission, told a press conference that the new road map was agreed by the heads of state of ECOWAS at the 59th ordinary summit in Accra on Saturday.

“Due to the shock of the pandemic, the heads of state had decided to suspend the implementation of the convergence pact in 2020-2021,” Dr Brou said.

“We have a new road map and a new convergence pact that will cover the period between 2022 and 2026, and 2027 being the launch of the Eco,” he said.

Dr Brou said the heads of state had asked the ministerial committee to look at the new roadmap and the convergence pact, taking into account the lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic.