ECOWAS Citizens Need Action, Not Talk Shows, to Confront Climate Crisis — Ricketts Hagan
The Leader of Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, Hon. George Kwaku Ricketts-Hagan, has called on the regional body to move beyond periodic conferences, seminars and policy discussions and take concrete action to confront the worsening climate crisis, flooding, displacement and insecurity threatening lives and livelihoods across West Africa.
He said the growing impact of climate change, particularly extreme flooding and the displacement of vulnerable communities, required urgent and practical solutions rather than continued discussions without corresponding action.
Hon. Ricketts-Hagan made the call in his welcome address at the opening ceremony of the Second Parliamentary Seminar and Second Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament for 2026 in Accra on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
He said the gathering offered ECOWAS lawmakers an important opportunity to translate parliamentary discussions into meaningful interventions capable of protecting citizens and strengthening regional resilience.
According to him, the increasing threats posed by climate change, environmental degradation, population displacement and insecurity had assumed a regional dimension and could no longer be effectively addressed by individual countries acting alone.
He stressed that parliamentarians, as representatives of the people, had a responsibility to ensure that the concerns and aspirations of citizens were reflected in regional decision-making.
“Parliamentarians occupy a unique position within our democratic systems. We are not only legislators, but also representatives of the people and important actors in promoting dialogue, accountability, good governance, peaceful resolution of differences and positive socio-economic and environmental development,” he said.
Hon. Ricketts-Hagan said the ECOWAS Parliament must therefore play a stronger role in ensuring that regional policies respond directly to the challenges confronting ordinary citizens.
“The ECOWAS Parliament therefore has an important role to play in bringing the voices, aspirations and concerns of our citizens closer to the regional decision-making process,” he stated.
Climate Crisis Demands Urgent Regional Action
The Ghanaian delegation leader said West Africa was facing a combination of interconnected challenges that demanded collective political action and stronger regional cooperation.
He identified climate change, environmental degradation, population displacement and insecurity as challenges that transcend national borders and require coordinated responses from ECOWAS member states.
He said the devastating effects of extreme weather events and flooding had demonstrated the need for governments and regional institutions to strengthen preparedness, early-warning systems and emergency response mechanisms to save lives and protect property.
Hon. Ricketts-Hagan urged participants to use the parliamentary seminar and extraordinary session to develop practical recommendations that could be translated into policies, programmes and interventions across the region.
He said the citizens of ECOWAS expected tangible results from their leaders and institutions, stressing that regional parliamentary engagements should ultimately contribute to improving their lives.
Ghana Hosts ECOWAS Parliament
Welcoming the ECOWAS Parliament to Ghana, Hon. Ricketts-Hagan said the country was honoured to host parliamentarians from across the Community at a time when West Africa was confronted with “several intricate and interconnected challenges” requiring collective action, political dialogue and stronger regional cooperation.
He acknowledged the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, the leadership and members of the regional legislature, as well as distinguished guests from ECOWAS member states who travelled to Accra for the programme.
He said their participation demonstrated a shared commitment to the ideals of ECOWAS and underscored the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in advancing regional integration.
“This Seminar and Extraordinary Session offer a valuable opportunity for Members of the ECOWAS Parliament to deliberate on matters of common interest to our peoples and to strengthen the parliamentary dimension of the regional integration process,” he said.
Hon. Ricketts-Hagan, who delivered the address on behalf of the leadership and members of Ghana’s Parliament, said Ghana looked forward to fruitful deliberations and meaningful outcomes from the programme.
Three-Day Parliamentary Seminar
The Second Parliamentary Seminar forms part of a broader programme bringing together ECOWAS parliamentarians and stakeholders to examine the effects of climate change and environmental degradation on the region.
The seminar is focused on the theme, “Climate Change, Environmental Degradation, Population Displacement and Growing Insecurity in the ECOWAS Region.”
Over the course of the programme, lawmakers are expected to examine how climate change is affecting livelihoods, food security, migration and human mobility, while also assessing its links to insecurity and social tensions across the sub-region.
The discussions are also expected to focus on strengthening regional early-warning systems, improving disaster preparedness and response, mobilising climate finance, building resilient communities and enhancing cooperation among member states.
Following the parliamentary seminar, the ECOWAS Parliament will proceed with its Second Extraordinary Session for 2026, during which members are expected to consider key parliamentary and institutional matters, including the draft budget for the 2027 financial year and the Parliament’s programme of activities.
The session will also provide an opportunity for lawmakers to review progress on regional initiatives and consider matters relating to the strengthening of ECOWAS institutions and regional integration.
Hon. Ricketts-Hagan expressed confidence that the deliberations would strengthen parliamentary cooperation and contribute to efforts to address the pressing challenges facing West Africa.
“Let us seize this opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment to regional solidarity, democratic governance, peace, security and sustainable development,” he urged.
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com
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