Winneba- Ghana to Host ECOWAS Parliament in September 2023

As part of the sub-regional integration process and to bring governance to the door steps of the People, Winneba would for the second time host the Extra Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament in September, 2023.

According to leader of the Ghanaian delegation Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Gjanaian delegation put a case across that it was high time international conferences are hosted out of the capital as members do not get the opportunity to travel outside the capital city.

This, he noted is to bring governance to the door steps of the very people who we governed and as well create the opportunity for the region by way of putting it on the visibility map to create a positive opportunity for development”.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin made these remarks in Liberia after the joint delocalized meeting, when he interacted with the media in Morovia.

He said he has no doubt in his mind that International programmes create the opportunities for growth, development and tourism; and Winneba being the capital of one of the Municipalities in the Central Region is more than ready to welcome the ECOWAS delegation.

He noted that, taking the Session to Winneba with all the international participants would once again market the region, the Effutu Constituency, the city which is a coastal city for greater opportunities; adding that he will advice other colleagues in member states to push for this.

In his considered view, when such initiatives come, government gets compelled to upgrade facilities a lot and after the conference is over such facilities become the property of the people and for other use.

“I will advise my colleagues to take advantage and plan with their governments”.
“We cannot always over concentrate in the capital cities; we need to move out and spread opportunity to the people”, he said.

He told journalists from member states in Liberia that this was not the first time and that Winneba in 2021 successfully hosted a delocalised meeting and an Extra Ordinary Session, so a precedent has been set.

“We are optimistic that this will be better than before. The Ghanaian government will put in place the necessary protocols for all MPs, focal persons and staffs, security arrangements would be in place, Winneba which is the capital of my constituency is just an hour drive from Accra on a good road,” the leader of Ghana delegation stressed.

He said most members are already used to that route, noting that, “there are enough facilities to host them and like I did indicate, we hope to make it a pleasurable time, profitable time for all; we encourage all of you to come and take part in the programme.”