The Volta Region, by its strategic location as the Eastern Gateway of the country, is ideal to promote the protocols of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and effectively facilitate its regional integration agenda.
Stating this, the Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, affirmed that the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) will commit great zeal and resources to supporting initiatives that align with the vision of development through partnership and collaboration among ECOWAS member states.
Mr Gunu was speaking at a day’s sensitisation workshop on ECOWAS Protocols for senior high schools and selected tertiary institutions in the Volta Region, at Sokode-Lokoe, near Ho, last Thursday.
Topics
The workshop, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, introduced the participants to an Overview of ECOWAS, its projects in Ghana, the Mandate and Functions of the Regional Integration Bureau/ECOWAS National office, ECOWAS Youth Policy – Achievements, Prospects and Challenges, and ECOWAS Gender Policy.
The topics also included the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement, Rights of Residence and Establishment, ECOWAS Maintenance of Peace and Security in West Africa, and the role of Civil Society and the Media in ECOWAS Regional Integration.
Mr Gunu said the VRCC would continue to work closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other stakeholders to ensure that the principles of ECOWAS - unity, economic progress and peaceful coexistence were not just taught in schools, but also lived in communities.
He said the workshop was most appropriate in its timing as ECOWAS’ vision of “a West Africa without borders, united in peace and prosperity” began with awareness and cooperation at the local level.
Principal objective
The Coordinating Director of Multilateral and International Organisations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francis Kotia, said the principal objective of the workshop was to enlighten the bright minds of second-cycle and tertiary institutions about the role, vision and protocols of the regional body.
“The ECOWAS is not just an organisation but a shared dream of unity, progress and prosperity for all West Africans,” he stated.
Mr Kotia said ECOWAS, since its establishment in 1975, had played a vital role in promoting economic growth, political stability and social development in West Africa.
“Through its clearly defined objectives, the organisation strives for a robust integration among its member states, addressing challenges such as political instability and economic inequality, to achieve lasting unity and development in the region,” he added.
Tangible benefits
Mr Kotia said beyond peace and security, ECOWAS had brought tangible benefits to its citizens.
For instance, the protocols on Free Movement and Rights of Residence and Establishment had facilitated cross-border cooperation and expanded economic activities in the sub-region.
He said recent data had confirmed that the sub-region had an economic output of about US$440.49 billion annually, with an export value of about US$ 122.7billion.
“Similarly, agreements on democracy and good governance have fostered accountability and political stability across the region,” Mr Kotia said.
He said those contributions underscored the enduring relevance of ECOWAS in addressing shared challenges and enhancing the lives of its citizens.
Further, Mr Kotia said, the introduction of the ECOWAS Identity Card (Ghana Card) and the ECOWAS passport were geared towards a unified identity system for the community.
