The Chairman on Judiciary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Christophe Tchao, says there should be unhindered free movement in West Africa among member States.
The Togolege parliamentarian said, according to ECOWAS protocols, citizens of the region should also be free to do work in member states, adding that it is the only way to bring development to the region.
His comments come ahead of the Parliamentary Seminar on Transhuman and Intercommunity Conflicts in the ECOWAS region which is expected to be held in Liberia from September 12-14, at the Ministerial Complex in the Monrovia suburb of Congo Town.
Speaking Monday when the delegation arrived at the Roberts International Airport (RIA), Tchao said free movement has been a problem for the region and as such the ECOWAS Parliament is “fighting”
for the free movement of its citizens in the space.
“It is good to be back in Liberia; the last time we visited Liberia, we were at the borders between Liberia and Sierra Leone and Liberia and Guinea. We went to see how our people are going through the borders between our countries, and we are here this time for session and seminar so we are very happy to be back here,” he said.
He explained that the Parliament is also here to support President George Manneh Weah, who was once a member of the ECOWAS Parliament, stating that “we are happy to see him as President today. He is young and we have come to support his workings in Liberia.”
Also making remarks upon arrival of the ECOWAS Parliamentary delegation at the Roberts International Airport, the head of the Liberia’s ECOWAS delegation, Edwin Melvin Snowe, said at the
extraordinary session, the delegates will discuss the “community budget, the Parliament budget, rules of procedure, the situation in South Africa, and other issues in the region.
He thanked the Liberian government and people for the “warm reception the Parliament has already received ahead of the work they have come to do.”
Running through the agenda for the extraordinary session, Snowe said on Thursday, September 12, the Vice President of Liberia, Madam Jewel Howard-Taylor, is expected to formally open the seminar which will run until Saturday, September 14.
On Saturday, he said, there will be a women forum, where women in the ECOWAS Parliament will hold an interactive discussion with VP Taylor.
On Sunday, September 15, there will be a friendly soccer match where the ECOWAS Parliament delegation will be going against the Liberian Legislature, while on Monday, September 16, President George Weah will perform the formal opening of the 2nd extraordinary session for 2019
as “ the guest of honor,” Snowe said.
TSS/abj/APA