Third Deputy Speaker of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Osahen Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin has called on legilators from developing and less developed countries to as a matter of urgency embrace parliamentary diplomacy as a catalyst for peace, securty and shared development.
Mr Afenyo-Markin who is also the Minority Leader in Ghana’s Legislature and the Representative of the people of Effutu in the Central region made the call at the third edition of the South-South Parliamentary Dialogue forum held in Rabat, Morocco.
He emphasised the importance of regional collaboration and dialogue as the bedrock for peace in addressing new and interconnected global challenges whiles urging the need for member countries to reflect the language of their people during deliberation with facts devoid of perceptions.
“Trust is built when we begin to speak the language of our people, address their concerns, and reconcile perceptions with facts. Dialogue is the foundation for peace,” he said.
According to the 3rd ECOWAS Parliament Deputy Speaker, an unalloyed paliamentary intervention “that transcends
borders and engages actively in shaping global economic, security, and migration policies from a Southern perspective” is crucial in making meaningful impact.
A statement issued by the Office of Mr Afenyo-Markin noted that, parliamentary dialogue was crucial in dealing with issues such as trade protectionism, inflation, youth unemployment, terrorism, and migration.
“Failure to prioritize structured cooperation could lead to deeper economic instability, noting that rising global tariffs and shrinking supply chains will disproportionately harm Global South economies,” the statement added.
Mr Afenyo-Markin further called for the institutionalization of South-South parliamentary cooperation and proposed the formation of forums like Association of Sanates, Shuras and Equivalent Councils in Africa and Arab World (ASSECAA) which he said can be “dispel misunderstandings, foster solidarity, and transform people’s aspirations into legislative action.”
The forum was held on the theme “Interregional and Intercontinental Dialogues in the Global South: A Vital Lever to Address New Challenges of International Cooperation and Achieve Peace, Security, Stability, and Shared Development”.
It brought together parliamentary leaders from across continents to explore frameworks for joint legislative action and development partnerships.
Read the full address by Hon AfenypMarkin below:
