Regional Trade Advocate Backs Calls for Term Restrictions in ECOWAS - The National Association of Nigerian Traders NANTS

By Edward Blamo 

For the purpose of avoiding unforeseen civil unrests occasioned by the lack of respect for constitutional term limits in the region, the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, is currently reviewing its protocol on Democracy and Good Governance with a view to enacting a restriction to only two term tenure limit for Heads of State in every member State.

And this position has received barrage of support from Head of States and Civil Society actors within the region.

Dr Ken Ukaoha, Director General, West African Institute for Trade and Agricultural Development (WAITAD), a leading Civil Society Organization working to promote trade in the region, has backed calls for term restrictions in the ECOWAS subregion.

Recently, at an emergency Head of States meeting held to address the situation over military takeover in neighboring Guinea, President George Manneh Weah challenged his colleagues to take seriously the issue of adherence to constitutional term limits to avoid political and security upheavals in the sub-region.

President Weah asserted that if the manipulation of constitutional terms is sternly discouraged by ECOWAS, the region could be spared the agony of military coups.

“While we are condemning these military coups, we must also muster the courage to look into what is triggering these unconstitutional takeovers. Could it be that we are not honoring our political commitments to respect the term limits of our various constitutions?” the Liberian Leader queried.

The President reminded his colleagues of Liberia’s zero-tolerance for military coups, recounting how the country is still recuperating from such unconstitutional ascendency to state power.

He noted that Liberia, as a notable member of the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS, aligns its position on Guinea and Mali to the position of these multilateral bodies that support ECOWAS’ Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.

This position of President Weah is being echoed by civil society actors and advocates including Dr. Ukaoha.

“It is imperative that the Authority of Heads of State as well as the ECOWAS Parliament and that of the respective Member States as well as political and economic actors including the civil society should rise up to condemn the sordid vision of some selfish leaders and insist on/support the current and ongoing review of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance with a view to enacting a restriction to only 2-term tenure limit for Heads of State in every member State”, he said in a statement.

Emphasizing the impact of political instability on trade in the region, Dr. Ukaoha expressed that the subject of democracy and good governance has a direct reference to what is referred to as ‘political economy’ which has trade as one of the essential components.

He justified that with constant political unrest and crises caused or actuated by perpetuation in office by political leaders, the economy is directly affected, Trade and integration is interjected and impeded; the hammer of economic sanctions imposed by the Commission on the specific country directly lands on the people especially the masses who are made to fall deeper into the poverty circle.

He continued that the resulting crises restricts movement of goods and services, thereby further constraining social and economic welfare of citizens; innocent women and children are hardest hit by the sparkling fire of crises; food insecurity and resultant malnutrition sets in among the populace; domestic productivity shrinks both at the manufacturing and agricultural sector levels.

Considering these realities, he said the growth and development of the region is and should be treated as paramount importance for the collective existence of all its citizens.

“ Peace must be seen as the foundation for facilitation of Trade and economic integration in our region”, he added.

Source: thekpataweepost.com