The Vice President of The Gambia, Badara Joof, has challenged the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Parliamentarians to show more commitment to their duties as lawmakers.
This he said would ensure the people-oriented governance that produces results.
Mr. Joof stated this in Banjul, The Gambia, when he visited the lawmakers who are his country on a delocalised meeting.
He urged them to be effective and vibrant legislatures that promote democracy and development.
Mr. Joof said; “You people have a lot of work to do, you are the custodian of the laws, you are the creators of the laws, and you are the representative of the people if you hear the people and more importantly listen to them, then you will be able to actualize the challenges they are facing.
“You are the legislature and you hold the executive to account; you hold the judiciary to account, you hold every institution in a functioning democracy to account.
“And this depends on your effectiveness, your proactiveness, and your efficiency in execution of your duties. If the legislature functions, democracy also functions”.
He said; “That is development democracy, and that is the challenge I am putting before you that you should promote development and democracy rather than putting a lot of emphasis on political democracy which leads to disunity and dysfunctionality system. So, promote development and democracy, we don’t need conflicts in the ECOWAS region” he stated.”
According to him, the cost of war is more expensive than the price of peace and it is in peace that we can achieve a lot.
“That is very important and we don’t have much time.
“There are certain challenges in the ECOWAS region but you should remember the indifference, support the weak and try to bring those people, who have deviated to fall in line through persuasion, discussion, and collaboration,” Mr Joof explained.
He said; “The provident of the future does not lie in AK47 and Khaki boys but rather in sound policies, and programmes that are implemented by Ministers for social-economic development of the community in particular and the community of Africa in general.
“That is very important for all of us to know.
“It is time to allow people participation; it is time to allow the legislature to function. It is time to allow the legislature, executive, and judiciary to function.”
The Gambia Vice President also said his country was committed to the promotion of women’s participation in governance while stressing the need for women’s inclusiveness in politics.
He said; “The government has deliberate policies on 35% affirmative action on women representatives. It is just the question of sensitising the public who should change the mindset to appreciate the role of women. The man and a woman are the two sides of the same coin, and minus any one of them, there is no value to the coin.
“It is important that this affirmative action is promoted, and I am sure all those at the National Assemblies and all the media will have this awareness to make sure that they have appreciable representation not only in the parliament but also in the civil service and public service and so forth.
“It is in active awareness of this that the Excellency-created ministry of gender women and children. So, it shows a conscious women’s effort to promote women’s participation in development. So, we will continue to do that and it is central to our development initiative.”
“The fact that ECOWAS has come together and I think it is one of the strongest regional blocks we have. We have the ECOWAS Parliament, we have the ECOMOG and we have other institutions that are coming together. And I think that should be consolidated and built upon.
I mean together we can make a difference in the life of our people. Acquiring comprehensive socio-economic development is anchored in partnership, cooperation and coordination. And that is what I see in this room,” Mr. Joof further stated.
He called on the ECOWAS Member States to enhance cooperation and collaboration for the advancement of the ECOWAS community.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
