By Ameh George, Abuja
Following the outcome of the recent general elections in Ghana, President Bola Tinubu has tasked leaders in West Africa to see the peaceful elections in that country as a model of democratic maturity and commitment to national unity.
Tinubu, who stated this at the opening of the 66th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS, in Abuja, also lauded President Nana Akufo-Addo and the people of Ghana for the resounding success of the presidential and parliamentary elections as well as his exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to ECOWAS during his two-year term, describing him as a formidable Pan-Africanist.
Besides, he praised Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, for painstakingly leading the ECOWAS Ministerial Committee of the Reforms and wished her a successful tenure in her new role as the Secretary General of the Commonwealth.
“I urge all of us in the region to learn from this good democratic practice and prioritise our country’s national unity to ensure political stability of the region so that this manner of peaceful transition becomes the culture of democracy not only in West Africa but also in the entire Africa”, he stated.
The Nigerian president pointed out that “despite the challenges of interrupted democratic governance in some West African countries, the region has continued to record democratic gains. Just a week ago, on December 7, 2024, Presidential and Parliamentary elections took place in Ghana, the second-largest democracy in our region.
“One of the leading candidates who happens to be the incumbent Vice- President, His Excellency Mahamudu Bawumia, together with the leadership of the ruling party, New Patriotic Party, NPP, conceded defeat and accepted the outcome of the Presidential election by congratulating the President-elect, His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama of National Democratic Congress, NDC, for his victory, even before the official announcement of the election results.
“This gesture, as it happened in Nigeria in 2015, demonstrates political maturity and respect for the will of the people of Ghana”, he said.
Meanwhile, renowned diplomat, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, says the Economic Community of West Africa States must recommit to strengthening regional agriculture value chains.
Chambas, made the call at the 66th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS summit of Heads of State and Government held in Abuja, yesterday.
He said strengthening agriculture value chains would help create the much-needed economic opportunity for farmers and economic operators.
Chambas, who is the Chairman of the Taskforce on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, ETLS, said this would also reduce regional food security challenges.
He expressed optimism that the region would be able to achieve a more resilient and sustainable agriculture sector.
Chambas, further said the delays in addressing the challenges hindering the free movement of persons and goods were not unique to any particular region of Africa.
He described ECOWAS as a regional leader in terms of freedom of movement of its people.
Chambas, said dysfunctions resulting from misapplication of ETLS protocols were partly due to weak institutional capacity of National Committees for the Recognition of Community Origin.
He identified the lack of knowledge of the protocols by economic actors as another challenge.
” Trade and development move along with people who trade, and West Africa is not an exception for what unites us is not just economic ties, but also social and cultural ones.
” As such, we need to continue to focus on improving the economic conditions of our people and to promote our regional integration in order to help increase our intra-Africa exchanges in all relevant areas.
” West Africa is a region where, for centuries, our people have moved about freely, engaging in commerce and building traditional bonds and historic relationships.
” This is a moment to work to build a borderless Africa, not the moment to step backward”, he said.
Chambas, also said free movement of people, goods and services across the continent must be made a priority in order to boost development and shared prosperity.
