A CERTAIN ECOWAS

"Say "NO” to corruption: it does not fit you! Say “NO” to bad leadership; you don't fit there. Say "NO” to immorality; it will only fake you! Be bold to say "NO” if that is what will take your breakfast away; you will get a sweeter launch pack for compensation sooner."

-Isrealmore Ayiyor-

     Economic Community of West African States(ECOWAS), celebrated its anniversary on 28th of May, 2018. Thus, this very Monday. My question here has to do with the fact that, has it achieved its goals or how far has it gone with its obligations?
Economic Community of West African States which is known as ECOWAS, is a regional economic union comprising fifteen independent West African countries. The 15 countries comprises 5 Anglophone countries and 10 Francophone countries. ECOWAS was established on 28th May, 1975, when the treaty of Lagos was signed with its mission to promote economic integration among the region. A revised treaty was signed in Cotonou, Benin in July, 1993. The chairperson of the ECOWAS is Faure Gnassingbe of Togo while Mr. Jean-Claudu Brou is the president of ECOWAS commission. The association was created  purposely to become the most important international economic instrument for economic co-operation and development in West Africa.

     Despite its purpose and its obligation, Mass looting of state funds is very common in west Africa by political office holders and bureaucrats, who see this as avenues to make a fortune for the future. It is only west Africa, precisely Ghana, that a road will be constructed and just within a month the roads will be ravaging. Those who steal state money are not punished, either of this now or in the future, are the catastrophe that slow down development in the community. The difference in the language will continue to pose a limitation to growth, as Nigeria with more than 250 ethnic languages, due to ethno linguistic fraction, there has been civil war in West African nations; the Ghana civil war in 1957 caused by the ethnic problem and closely followed the Nigeria civil war in 1966. Due to this effect, there have been delays in development in the region.

      Anti-government, demonstration, assassination, constitutional changes, coups, governmental crisis, purges, loot and share, riots, election rigging, and political thuggery have been the order of the day. The government policies are not only misinterpreted, but misappropriation of state funds has been very rampant with those in the political class.

"Our evolution depends on our memory. If we keep forgetting the mistake of the past, only to keep reflecting them, then we will never change. Humanity will never move forward, spiritually or morally to become superior beings"

-Susy Keissem-

     African Union officials have accused China of hacking its headquarters' computer systems every night for 5 years and downloading confidential data. The same building was built by Chinese state owned company which was funded by Beijing at the cost of $20m. The report by Le monde said, China had installed hidden microphones in the building and were transferring sensitive information at odd times of day.
Just recently, the president of the ECOWAS commission, Mr. Jean-Claude Bou and the Ambassador of China to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Zhou Pingjian signed for both parties in a bilateral agreement held at the ECOWAS commission headquarters, Abuja.  With the basis of building a new headquarters for the community with the grant worth $31.6 million dollars. Why should we give a contract to foreigners to build our own headquarters? Have we lost hope in our own people? The people we have invested in...... Hmmmm. China is also building a new parliament for Congo Republic and rebuilding the burnt premises in Gambia.  Why can't member nations contribute for the construction of our own headquarters? Early this year, the president of Ghana was moving with a mantra, “Ghana beyond aid”. Can we not spread this mantra into the community by using our own resource to develop Africa and precisely West Africa? We are rather depending on China and Western part of the world to develop our region which is now using dubious means to take over our resources. Nevertheless, despite the challenges facing the regional body, the body may not be seen as a total failure because, there is still room for corrections and hope that it will get better. Borrowing from the words of Chimua Achebe, there is nothing wrong with the West Africans, we can coordinate and perform even better that the European union. If all these things can be effectuate, the leaders should change their mentality. They should believe in the citizens in the region. We should not be repeating our mistakes by continuing to give contracts to foreigners to develop our region.
 Arise the youth of west Africa, precisely Ghana, and move this region forward!

 Amo-Agyei Gideon is a first year student studying Bsc. Agribusiness Management who believes that, activism is the only tool that can change the status quo.🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥