Consolidate West African democracy-Rawlings

Accra, (Greater Accra) 4th May ?99,

President Jerry John Rawlings said on Monday the proposed sub-regional Parliament is as crucial to the consolidation of democracy in West Africa as it is to the promotion of good governance in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Opening the First Conference of Speakers of West African Parliaments in Accra, President Rawlings said when its funding dimension is kept in proper focus, the process of establishing the ECOWAS Parliament will not stall and abandoned midstream.

"Governments and related international partners will definitely be interested in the cost of the project just as they will be curious about how to make governance at the sub-regional level more efficient, more open and transparent, accountable and responsive."

The three-day conference aimed at fostering inter-regional co-operation and integration among the peoples of the West African sub-region and their Parliaments is being attended by delegates from 12 out of the 16 ECOWAS member-states, as well as representatives from the Secretariats of the ECOWAS and the Union of African Parliaments (UAP).

The participating countries include Ghana, Liberia, Cote D'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Guinea and the Cape Verde. The rest are Sierra Leone, Senegal, Mali, and the Gambia.

President Rawlings, the guest speaker, reminded ECOWAS countries that it would be needless for them to develop democratic institutions and processes of governance at national levels if they do not ensure that non-democratic and technocratic structures at the sub-regional level are changed.

The President commended the Speakers for creating the forum, adding in coming together to exchange experiences and common concerns, "you will not only be forging greater unity in the sub-region, but will also be advancing the cause of meaningful democracy".

He pointed out that the establishment of Parliaments or National Assemblies does not in itself ensure real democracy because the mere existence of these institutions during the pre-colonial era did not prevent "our countries from experiencing serious political crises, including the violent overthrow of regimes, periods of undemocratic oppression, and in some cases, even civil war."

President Rawlings blamed this unfortunate situation on the greed and ambitions of individuals and interest groups coupled with the external political and economic influences.

President Rawlings therefore reminded the Legislature that if the electorate see Parliament as a remote and an exclusive club far away in the capital, they will become frustrated and dissatisfied due to the lack of channels of communication, and the end result will be instability.

As conflict managers and peacemakers, the President urged Speakers of Parliaments in the sub-region to add their collective voices to the fight against the prevention or resolution of conflicts in nations whose infrastructures needed to advance economic prosperity and to sustain human development, are being destroyed.

Mr Justice Daniel Francis Annan, Speaker of Parliament, recounted the formation of ECOWAS more than two decades ago and said its treaty promised a well-integrated region for posterity in the sub-region.

Mr Justice Annan admitted however that the journey since then has not been easy and smooth because of setbacks ranging from conditions of economic decline instead of growth, social disintegration rather than cohesion, and violence and war, instead of dialogue and peace.

The Speaker said in spite of "these setbacks, some modest achievements have been made in the areas of trade, the free movement of persons and goods, and in containing armed conflict and enforcing peace in the sub-region.

"These mixed outcomes have not weakened our resolve to search tirelessly for unity where there is division, integration where separation persists, and security and stability where turbulence, insecurity and instability remain."