Paul Osei-Kuffour, coordinator for WADEMOS said most African citizens want ECOWAS to review the supplementary protocol, as amplified by an Afrobarometer Survey.
Mr Osei-Kuffour also said as civil society and pro-democracy actors working on regional issues covering democracy, peace and security as well as good governance, they are ready and willing to collaborate with the ECOWAS Commission to expedite action on the important issue of term limits, which is a major driver of instability in the region.
“The review of the supplementary protocol across the sub-region is to ensure that in all West African countries, there would be a transparent electoral process, respect for the rights and freedoms of all persons, non-interference of the military in the governance of a country, and respect for constitutionalism, among others,” he stated. “The institutionalisation of the Protocol is indicative of ECOWAS’ belief that good governance and the rule of law are non-negotiable conditions for sustainable development and peaceful coexistence.”
However, Mr Paul indicated that, after more than two decades of implementing the protocol, there are inherent gaps that expose its “inadequacies” and render its “ineffectiveness” in responding to the current and emerging socio-political environment in West Africa.
“In July 2015, during the ECOWAS Heads of State Summit in Accra, West African leaders rejected a declaration to impose a two-term limit on all countries in the sub-region after Togo and The Gambia, both with presidents who had been in power for more than two terms, purportedly opposed the idea,” he said.
Professor David Dosseh, coordinator for TLP-Togo, added his voice to the unfortunate and disturbing incidents in Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone and the seemingly lack of progress with the transition processes in countries under unconstitutional changes of government.
“We note with disappointment the stalemate in Niger, where the timeliness for the transition have not been agreed upon between the Junta and ECOWAS. Again, we condemn the growing solidarity among military leaders in West Africa, which undermines sub-regional integration and calls for immediate compliance and respect of the agreed transition timeliness and charter and the regional normative instruments for the timely restoration of constitutional order,” Mr Dosseh stated.
