ECOWAS Chair urged to do more to tackle authoritarianism in SSA

The Executive Director of Kandifo Institute, Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, has urged the Chairman of ECOWAS, President Nana Akufo-Addo, to tackle the recent upsurge of authoritarianism in some Sub-Sahara African countries as a way of prioritising West African leadership in his tenure of office.

He also believes attention should be given to agriculture since most West African economies are still used to traditional farming methods. He further notes that most West African countries are struggling with their economies, especially in the face of climate change and COVID-19.

“You should ensure that these traditional systems are transformed to be more mechanical. This, we believe, would improve and boost the economy and contribute to national development,” he said.

Mr Boakye-Danquah made the call in a congratulatory message to President Akufo-Addo on his re-election as ECOWAS chair.

Ambition and perseverance

Describing the achievement of the ECOWAS Chair as a testament of ambition and perseverance, he noted that President Akufo-Addo’s re-election would afford him the opportunity to recommence the impactful scheme by focusing more on health and infrastructural policies as well as issues of peace and security.

“As the Chairman, he should ensure that the other Heads of States of the member state countries make their citizens strictly adhere to the COVID-19 protocols in order to fight and curb the spread of the virus…there is dire need of health facilities and health professionals, and so it is keen for member states to see to it that health centres with very laboratories are set up at vantage areas within those countries to serve a good capacity of citizens,” he said.

“It is necessary to address the root cause and structural factors of conflicts by identifying safety and resilience conditions that reduce deficits in state building, peace building and risks to violence and conflicts. We are confident that his Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo would task the heads of the 15 member states to ensure that there is no repetition of what happened in Nigeria (END SARS) that led to the death of many Nigerians,” he added.

On trade, Mr Boakye-Danquah is confident that with the rich natural resource endowment of most West African countries, through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), there would be a significant level of independence to promote development in the West Africa Sub-region.

“Congratulations once again, your Excellency on your success. We know you will be able to climb any challenge that comes your way just as you have along your journey so far,” he stressed.