By Ebi Kesiena
As a means to avert unconstitutional change in government, West African countries have been urged to entrench good governance and constitutional order.
The President of Gambia, Adama Barrow made the call in Banjul, the Gambia at the opening of the 2023 International Conference of the Community Court of the Economic Community of West Africa States, ECOWAS, with the theme: ECOWAS Zero Tolerance for Unconstitutional Change of Government.
Mr Barrow, represented by the Gambian Vice President Mohammad Jallow, said zero tolerance for unconstitutional changes should not just be a slogan but a guarantee for the supremacy of the constitution by ensuring that every individual no matter their status is held accountable for any form of malfeasance.
“Zero tolerance for unconstitutional change in government should not just be a slogan, it should reflect in our actions in our policies and in our laws; it calls for strengthening our legal and institutional frameworks to guarantee the supremacy of our constitution, we must ensure that every individual irrespective of their position or status is subject to the law and held accountable for breaching the law.”
Also, he insisted that ECOWAS stance on zero tolerance for unconstitutional change of government sends a clear message to every corner of our region that democracy is not just an option but an absolute requirement.
Simultaneously, the President of the ECOWAS Court, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, noted that the theme of this year’s conference was carefully chosen because of the several incidences of unconstitutional change of government in three ECOWAS Member States; Republics of Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso.
