In a pressing appeal, Buah Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, a Member of ECOWAS Parliament from Ghana has called for swift and decisive parliamentary diplomacy to mediate with Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali. This comes as the three Sahel countries continue to drift further away from the regional bloc, threatening the stability and unity of West Africa.
“The situation is dire, and we cannot afford to wait,” Buah emphasized in an exclusive interview. “The Community Parliament should activate contact channels with former colleagues of the Parliament before the coup occurred. We need to establish a dialogue and find a way to bring these countries back into the fold.”
Buah’s comments follow Burkina Faso’s recent introduction of a new biometric passport without the ECOWAS logo, a move seen as a significant step towards solidifying the country’s break from the regional bloc. This development has raised concerns among ECOWAS member states, with many fearing the potential consequences of a fragmented West Africa.
“We should move quickly and fast-track dialogue,” Buah stressed. “I do not believe the solution to this problem is with those who had the opportunity to turn things around and were unable to do so. We need fresh perspectives and new approaches to resolve this crisis.”
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The Deputy Minority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament praised Senegalese President H.E. Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye for leading efforts to bring the three Sahel countries back into the fold. “He needs a lot of support in this direction,” Buah noted. “We must work together to find a solution that benefits all parties involved.”
In a passionate appeal, Buah urged Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali to “open the door for diplomacy” and work collectively to address the pressing issues facing the region. “We need to work together to lift our citizens out of poverty and address the security challenges facing our region. We cannot afford to go it alone; collective action is the only way forward.”
Buah also expressed concerns about the credibility of current mediators, stating, “We should do away with the face of the old guards who are mediating; they have lost credibility, unfortunately, including the Ghanaian president. We need new voices and fresh perspectives to resolve this crisis.”
As tensions rise and the future of ECOWAS hangs in the balance, Buah’s call for urgent parliamentary diplomacy may be the key to resolving the crisis and maintaining regional unity. The international community watches with bated breath as West Africa teeters on the brink of fragmentation.