By Chioma Iruke
The Parliament of the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) has called for the revision of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance to prohibit all forms of political manipulations by leaders in the region to hold on to power beyond constitutional limits.
The Parliament made the recommendation at the end of its High-level Seminar held in Winneba, Ghana.
The recommendation was contained in the communique on the outcome of the Seminar which was read by Zargo Stephen, a Member of Parliament from Liberia.
The recommendation for a revised protocol to prohibit tenure elongation is coming after the phenomenon has been seen to be the leading cause of the disruption of democratic rule in Mali and Guinea.
Members of Parliament and Experts also recommended that for consolidation of democracy and good governance, the process of the election of member of the community Parliament should be by Direct Universal Suffrage.
They recommended that “a study be conducted for the adoption of regional standards to govern electoral processes.
“Such as an effective independence of election management agencies, the partiality of courts that sits on electoral disputes, regulation of electoral campaigns, computerization of electoral registers and use of voters’ card.
“Compliance with the quota or gender equality system to enhance women’s representation in decision-making bodies, including the ECOWAS Parliament.”
The Speaker of the Community Parliament, Dr. Mohamed Sidie Tunis in his closing remarks, called on Member States of the Community to ensure that they include into their national laws, provisions of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
According to Dr. Tunis, the Seminar provided an insight towards a better understanding of the legal, institutional, and material frameworks for conducting elections in Member States, adding that, “we were able to come to terms with the fact that, although there are shortcomings in our electoral systems, such shortcomings can be remedied by adopting best practices.”
He added that: “We still believe that one of the best yardsticks for measuring democracy is the conduct of periodic elections that are considered credible through meeting best international practices.
”Furthermore, elections should necessarily provide good and inclusive governance.”
He echoed the Community’s “strong faith in the ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, and urge Member States to incorporate its relevant provisions into national legislations.”
Other recommendations of the seminar is on the role of civil societies and non-state actors in elections, as they cautioned civil societies, political parties and electoral candidates against disclosure of results before the body mandated to do so.
The Supplementary Protocol was developed in 2001 as an expression of a new, collective political resolve of ECOWAS Member States to take the process of preventing and resolving crises and violent conflicts forward, and to achieve peace and security through the development of democracy and good governance.
