ECOWAS Parliament Holds First Session of 2023 to Discuss Community’s Progress and Future Plans
Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, the president of the ECOWAS Commission
The first ordinary session of the ECOWAS Parliament opened last Monday, with a focus on examining country reports from various delegations and discussing the state of the community. As well as a presentation on the state of the community by Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, the president of the ECOWAS Commission.
As per the provisions of Article 32 of the Additional Act on the strengthening of the powers of the Community Parliament, the Commission president is obligated to give an overview of the state of the ECOWAS and its flagship projects during the two regular sessions of the institution. Dr. Touray fulfilled this duty on the third day of the proceedings.
During the plenary session on May 10th, Dr. Touray’s panoramic presentation on the state of the community focused on the macroeconomic and financial performance of member states, the drivers of economic growth, the trend in consumer prices, the state of macroeconomic convergence of member countries, and the progress in implementing the single currency program.
The president of the Commission noted that all these sectors were impacted by the weak performance of the global economy, due to high inflation resulting from aggressive monetary tightening and uncertainties related to the war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Touray also reported that the negative effects of this global economic recession were particularly felt in ECOWAS countries’ production of goods and services. However, agriculture was more resilient overall, although 29.5 million people still required food assistance in 2022, and 107.5 million individuals are expected to experience a regression in nutritional security within the next 2 to 3 years.
In response to this food insecurity affecting millions of people in member countries, the Commission, according to Dr. Touray’s communication, extensively drew from its food reserve stocks and set in motion mechanisms for collaboration with international organizations. Beyond this emergency response, the Commission, still according to Dr. Touray, is working to improve the economic, monetary, commercial, infrastructure, and agricultural performance of countries in the community space.
The Commission’s president emphasized that in addition to member states, regional and international institutions, “we all have a role to play in realizing the dream … the vision of a peaceful, prosperous community for all,” said President Touray.
During the plenary, six countries – Cape Verde, Senegal, Nigeria, Gambia, Benin, and Niger – presented their country reports, giving rise to enriching debates on regional developments and the pursuit of the Community’s fundamental objectives.
