By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States, which commenced the Second Extraordinary Session of the fifth Legislature in Winneba, Ghana on Tuesday October 3, 2023, has proposed to use the 2024 budget to support women and youths development.
This Second Extraordinary Session of the Community Parliament is dedicated to the consideration and adoption of the 2024 Draft Budget of the Parliament.
Speaker of the parliament, Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis who declared the Session open, disclosed that the key components of the 2024 budget will be channeled towards supporting women and youth development in the subregion.
“The Budget, is the financial expression of our participation and commitment to the development and integration process of our region. “
“The Parliament’s Budget provides the means to implement our actions contained in the institution’s strategic plan. It also contributes, in a meaningful way, to
the preservation of democracy and peace, which are the fundamental precursors of economic development and integration. “
Speaker Tunis, noted that the fifth Legislature, under his stewardship, has never neglected it’s commitment to fund programs that impact directly on the community citizens, like women and Youth.
He assured that a second global summit for women and youths will be held in December.
He further assured that the establishment of ECOWAS Youth Parliament would involve more youths participation in political institutions in the sub-region and also discourage them from social vices.
“The ECOWAS Parliament stands ready to work with the youths of our region in bringing together all the different Youth Assemblies with like vision and purpose under one umbrella, aimed at establishing the ECOWAS Youth Parliament.”
Tunis said, “Earlier this year, we hosted the ECOFEPA Global Summit through direct budgetary allocation from the Parliament’s Budget.”
“As a result of the successes recorded and testimonies received from the beneficiaries, I am pleased to announce that provision has been made in the 2024 budget to host a Second Global Summit for Women and Youths across our region before the end of this Legislature. “
I am aware that in December of 2023, during our Second Ordinary Session, ECOFEPA is expected to elect a new corps of Officers and whoever emerges as the next President, please be assured of our unflinching support in achieving this and other gender-sensitive programs, he said.
Tunis further admonished leaders in the sub-region to respect the rule of law and constitutionalism by strengthening the democratic institutions and agencies that facilitate promotion, and protection of the inalienable human rights of the people, educate the masses on the importance of democracy, and ensure that the strong democratic institutions hold the military accountable to civilian rule.
Furthermore,Hon. Mohamed Bangura and Hon. Sarah Emmerson Lamina, parliamentarians from Sierra Leone were sworn in by the speaker.
