West African parliament imminent
From Segun Ayeoyenikan, Abuja
Guardian; 4 Feb., 2000


DEMOCRATIC states in the West African sub-region are to establish a common
parliament to be known as "West African Parliament" before the end of this
year.

The Ghanaian minority leader, Mr. J.N. Mensah who insisted the Minister of
Cooperation and Integration in Africa, Prof. Jerry Gana in Abuja yesterday,
said the take off of the parliament would be in phases.

According to him, the first structure would be made up of speaker from the
national assemblies of the 16 countries that constitute the Economic
Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He added that the second phase would later involve all legislatures from
while the legislature would be regarded as a special arm to discuss issues
of common interest affecting the sub-region.

Mensah who said he had served as a finance minister in Ghana between 1965 to
1969 lauded Nigeria's role in the sub-region and emphasised the need for the
country's support for the initiative.

He added that he was part of the initial initiative that culminated in the
eventual establishment of ECOWAS in 1975 and expressed satisfaction with the
creation of a ministry of co-operation and integration in Africa by the
Obasanjo administration.

Mensah said the establishment of the ministry was in the best position to
facilitate the much desired co-operation among African countries
particularly in the West Africa sub-region.

He added: "Considering the backwardness of Africa in virtually all spheres
of human endeavour and general economic development, Africa needs to
co-operate more than ever before".

Mensah advocated the eradication of all laws and state policies which he
described as "parochial, myopic and obsessive patriotic drive" which, over
the years, have served negatively to inhibit increased economic activities
in the sub-region.

He expressed his country's revulsion at the recent coup in Cote d'Ivoire
describing it as "unfortunate and retrogressive to the desire for a full
democratic rule in Africa".

He, however, warned that the era of set-tight leadership was over. The
people, he said, should be allowed to choose their own leaders not by
imposition or any other special arrangement.

While responding to questions from journalists on the recent prominence
placed on integration in the sub-region over a larger African unity, the
minority leader said "the objective of a United Africa is golden and
ultimate but African unity has to start from the sub-region. The
sub-regional efforts are therefore necessary to build a strong and virile
federation of Africa".

He pointed out that the present efforts by ECOWAS were in consonance with
similar ones put in place by other sub-regional blocs in Africa.

Prof. Gana thanked Mensah for what he called "an inspiring visit" which he
added would go a long way to strengthen the newly found spirit of genuine
co-operation among West African countries as spearheaded by both the
governments of Nigeria and Ghana.

Gana said ECOWAS in the Bamako extral-ministerial summit agreed to sponsor a
West African parliament and also establish s West African Court of Justice
which would be constituted by six judges to be selected from the sub-region.

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