As the coronal virus pandemic pushed the implementation of the West African sub-regional single currency ECO back to 2027, Chairman of the Committee on Macro-Economic Policy and Economic Research, Hon Barrow Kebba K. is optimistic the Community Parliament will play its key role by the end of its life span.
According to him, his Committee is going to work to ensure all legislative instruments and programmes needed for the implementation of the ECO are put in place and finalised before the life span of the current Parliament ends.
“By the time the 6th Parliament of ECOWAS is sworn in, I hope the Authority of Heads of States and Governments and the Commission president and other institutions that matter in ensuring that we have ECO would work closely and ensure its implementation, that would be the best thing that would help all of us”, he said.
In an interview, he noted that as a Sub-region we do not need to look for other currencies when travelling around West Africa, and as he is from the Gambia coming to Togo for a joint Committee meeting he had to change money into CFA.
Again, other travellers have to change money into dollars and in that process, a lot of money is wasted.
He further pointed out that the delocalised meeting in Togo is very important and on the theme, “The modalities for the practical implementation of Article 9 and 11 of the Supplementary Act of the Parliament, in respect of the consideration of the Community audit reports”.
His Committee, he said, is working with all the Central Banks and also the African inter Trade Committees to look at the issues of the single currency for ECOWAS.
He added that Heads of States within the Subregion have to do more to empower the West African citizenry in the wake of the corona virus pandemic coming down, especially the protocol on Free Movement of Goods Services and People, which is the bedrock to development.
“If you consider the activities of our women folks from Niger, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Gambia and the other member states, our women are doing a lot. They work 24 hours around the clock, pushing for development in the process and working to improve our economies and social cohesion”.
He emphasised the need for Heads of States to work with institutions in the member states to implement protocols to ensure there are no hitches, which is part of the reason why they are having a delocalised meeting for citizens of the Community to be well informed.
On the issue of land borders being opened within the Sub-region, he noted that it is a welcome development and would help improve the quality of life of various people in the respective member states.
“If you look at monies being collected as a community levy; you saw the projections, it is really helping the major institutions of the ECOWAS Community. Our funds are really helping us and donors are just chipping in to facilitate and also help us to ensure our objectives are met.”
ECOWAS Parliament is doing well as it brings the Community to the doorsteps of the citizens and helps the people to know what the Community Parliament, Commission and other institutions are doing.
Source: Mypublisher24.com/Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Lome-Togo