The ECOWAS Parliament has concluded its Second 2026 Parliamentary Seminar in Accra, Republic of Ghana, following three days of deliberations on climate change as driver of environmental degradation, population displacement and growing insecurity in the region.
Accra, Ghana, 23 September 2026 – The seminar, held on the theme, “Climate Change as a Driver of Environmental Degradation, Population Displacement and Growing Insecurity in the ECOWAS Region,” ended with call for urgent and concerted regional action.
The final day featured a documentary examining impact of climate change across different sectors, followed by country reports from five ECOWAS Member States: Côte d’Ivoire, Cabo Verde, The Gambia, Togo and Nigeria.
The presentations provided national perspectives on climate-related challenges and responses, enriching discussions on environmental, humanitarian, development and security implications of climate change in West Africa.
Delivering her closing remarks, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, H.E. Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima, underscored urgency of climate challenge facing the region, citing intensifying droughts and floods, receding coastlines and disproportionate effects on vulnerable populations.
She noted that national experiences shared during seminar demonstrated how political will, innovation and regional cooperation could help transform challenges into opportunities.
Among recommendations emerging from deliberations were establishment of a Regional Climate Resilience Fund, strengthening of early-warning systems, and promotion of agroforestry and renewable energy.
The Speaker also called for inclusive climate policies, equitable access to climate finance and stronger parliamentary oversight of implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions and regional commitments.
“The time has come for action,” H.E. Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima declared, urging Members of Parliament to take lessons and recommendations of seminar back to their respective Member States and advocate for implementation.
Reaffirming ECOWAS Parliament’s commitment to regional integration, climate resilience and collective security, the Speaker assured participants that seminar’s conclusions would be transmitted to competent authorities and subjected to rigorous follow-up.
She formally declared the Second 2026 Parliamentary Seminar closed, calling for sustained regional cooperation to build a peaceful, resilient and prosperous West Africa, in line with aspirations of ECOWAS Vision 2050.