ECOWAS Must use Parliamentary Diplomacy to Mediate Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali return— Hon Kofi Buah
Hon Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, one of Ghanaian representative in the ECOWAS Parliament, has emphasized the urgent need for parliamentary diplomacy to maintain the ties of Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali with the West African bloc.
He urged the ECOWAS Community Parliament to re-establish contact with former colleagues from these nations, particularly before the recent coups.
Addressing the introduction of a new biometric passport by Burkina Faso, which notably excludes the ECOWAS logo, Buah expressed concern that this move signals the country’s deepening estrangement from the regional group.
He stressed the importance of fast-tracking diplomatic dialogue, citing the formation of a committee to address this.
“I don’t believe the solution lies with those who previously had the chance to make a difference and failed,” Buah stated, referring to past leadership efforts.
Mr Buah commended the President of Senegal, H.E. Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye, for spearheading efforts to reintegrate the three Sahel countries into ECOWAS. He stressed the importance of offering Faye support in his mediation efforts.
He further appealed to Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali to embrace diplomacy, stating that the region cannot progress through isolated efforts.
“The only way to lift our citizens out of poverty is through collective action, not by going our separate ways with begging bowls,” Buah emphasized.
On whether there’s hope for resolution, Buah remained optimistic but insisted that the current mediators, including Ghana’s president, have lost credibility.
“We need to move beyond the old guards,” he lamented.
Source: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso
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