By John Ikani
The year 2023 has been declared an election year by the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
This comes as Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Benin prepare to hold general elections.
Speaker Sidie Mohammed Tunis kicked off the ECOWAS Parliament Extraordinary session in Guinea Bissau with a rallying cry for free, fair, and transparent elections across the region.
With Nigeria set to blaze the trail for elections this year, he assured the country that ECOWAS will be fully involved in election observation on voting day.
“This year has been dubbed ‘Elections Year’ in the ECOWAS region,” Tunis declared.
“Our biggest democracy, Nigeria, will be the first to the polls, followed by Sierra Leone and Liberia.
“And let’s not forget the recent legislative elections in Benin.
“We’re working closely with the ECOWAS Commission to uphold the Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, and our observers will be there to provide support.”
Tunis also condemned the violence and killing of innocent civilians, including children, in Burkina Faso and other parts of the region. He called for a united front against such barbarity.
Regarding the region’s economy, the Speaker warned that 2023 will be a challenging year for the region.
The IMF predicts a global slowdown, and poorer countries like many in ECOWAS will have to act fast to protect their economies.
“Economic stagnation will impact ECOWAS projects and activities,” he said.
“We must draw attention to the need for economic choices in ECOWAS and its member states.”
In the same vein, Speaker of the Guinea Bissau National Assembly, Cipriano Cassama, called on the Parliament to implement new policies and infrastructures to speed up development in the West African market.
“Communities should invest more in educational programs and improve the protection of the environment and health sector,” he added.
