March 21, 201
By Mohamed M. Sesay
In his quest to build a prosperous and peaceful community space among member states, the Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament Hon. Sidi Mohamed Tunis has yesterday encouraged Members of the ECOWAS Parliament to strengthen the commitment in taking regional integration to the People. He described such an ideal as a “sine qua non” condition for the harmonious development of the ECOWAS region.
Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament made this disclosure in the opening session of the fifth Parliamentary seminar on the theme “Involvement of ECOWAS Parliament Members in Monitoring the Application of the Protocol Relating to Community Levy.”
He said the Community Levy is a mechanism set up by ECOWAS Heads of State and Government and has been operational since 2003. He added that the levy is meant to mobilize the funds required for the accomplishment of the missions of the common goal of the organization. He averred that the 0.5% levy imposed on goods from non-ECOWAS Member States is intended to cater for around 80% of the Community’s budget revenue.
He lamented the fact that member states are witnessing a low mobilization of the said resources which has been around 30% of forecasts over the past three years. In addition, he noted that the import receipts on which the Community Levy is based have also dwindled due to the impact of the health crisis on the global economy, and also faced with such a difficulty and with the peril that threatens the implementation of community projects and programmes, as well as the execution of the activities of the Community institutions.
Speaker Tunis disclosed that the President of the ECOWAS Commission, on the occasion of the Second Extraordinary Session for year 2020, held via video conference, in July 2020, requesting the assistance of the Parliament in the implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol on the Community Levy.
He further made reference to the seminar that forms part of the continuation of Parliament’s efforts to make a significant contribution to the resolution of this priority challenge, and also offers them the opportunity to make relevant and innovative proposals. These issues he stressed provide the full complement of the effectiveness of parliamentary action. He therefore entreated all member states to define an intervention framework for parliamentarians in mobilizing the said resources and to find the means to achieve the effective application of the ECOWAS Protocol.
He added that the Community Levy is the very expression of the solidarity and responsibility of their respective Governments in the process of integration and in the achievement of the regional agenda.
“Our ambition to build a prosperous and peaceful community space is irreversible. The results obtained in our common market are very appreciable. However, we will have to further concretize our determination to take regional integration to the People. This is a “sine qua non” condition for the harmonious development of our region”, he said.
He further maintained that the ECOWAS Parliament Seminar opens in an international atmosphere still dominated by the persistence of the Covid-19 pandemic. He observed that the health challenge facing humanity is on the verge of being addressed, noting that member states have several vaccines which doses are being administered with remarkable success to the populations. He seized the opportunity to congratulate the researchers, scientists and physicians for their tireless and continuous efforts to provide an appropriate response to the problems of our time. He encouraged everyone to avail themselves for the vaccines.
Speaker Tunis observed that one of the important lessons that member states have learnt from the fight against Covid-19 is the need for everyone to protect themselves and their neighbors, to holistically observe the wearing of masks, and to apply the vaccines across the world to permanently break the virus’ chain of transmission and ensure the success of the Covid-19 eradication.
He pointed out that the call to solidarity and responsibility in a common destiny permitted him to speak to the content of the parliamentary seminar, which so rightly deals with the symbol of implementation of the said values in the region, namely the Community Levy.
He said the session hosted in Freetown is the very first activity that brings together all Members of Parliament, more than a year after the installation of their Fifth Legislature in March 2020. He said the situation is clearly attributable to the unexpected, violent and insidious Covid-19 pandemic.
“In conclusion, I wish our meeting resounding success and it is on such a note of hope that I declare open the meeting of this First Parliamentary Seminar of the Fifth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament. Long Live Regional Integration! Long Live ECOWAS”, he concluded.