Act Swiftly to Avert Threat to Peace & Security in West Africa -Beninese Speaker Urges Leaders

The Speaker of the National Assembly of Benin Prof. Mathurin Coffi Nago says the socio-economic challenges in West Africa can be successfully addressed if leaders in the sub region conduct joint actions in a dynamic mutual solidarity and promote better management of resources in member countries.
 
He said leaders must act quickly to avert threats to peace and security to ensure that the democratic process on going in the subregion is not undermined.
 
Prof. Nago who is also the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of West African Parliaments was addressing Ghana’s Parliament on Wenseday. 
He is on a consultative mission to Ghana. 

Radio Ghana’s Parliamentary Correspondents Dominic Hlordzi and Augustus Acquaye report that the Speaker of the National Assembly of Benin Prof. Coffi Nago is in the country to among other activities solicit inputs into a charter which is being developed to strengthen and revitalize the of Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments of West African States and the ECOWAS Parliament.
 
Addressing Ghana’s Parliament, Prof. Coffi Nago said the proliferation and uncontrolled movement of weapons and the pockets of conflicts in the region are serious threat and a source of discomfort at the socio-economic and political levels forcing the exodus of the poor population.
 
The other danger he noted is terrorism which unfortunately has already infiltrated some state spreading terror and panic in communities. The terrorist activities he observed means that no state is safe regardless of the level of democracy. He spoke about the Ghana-Benin bilateral Cooperation.

The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament Edward Doe Adjaho lauded the initiative of the Conference of Speakers of West African Parliaments to reactivate the group to help promote governance and development in the region.

The Majority Leader Dr. Benjamin Kunbour also touched on the bilateral relation between Benin and Ghana and stressed the need to fast tract regional integration.

GBC