ECOWAS moves to end death of it citizens in Mediterean sea

By Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja

The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) has expressed

worries over the death of its citizens in the Mediterranean Sea caused by

irregular migration by its citizens. They attributed the cause of the irregular

migration of its citizens to the foreign countries by the high rate of

unemployment in the region. It could be recalled in the last few years the

community has recorded numerous deaths of its citizens in the Mediterranean

Sea looking for greener pastures abroad.

Speaking at the Opening Session of the Delocalized Meeting of the Joint

Committee on Communications and Information Technology, Education , Science and Technology, Labour, Employment , Youth, Sports and Culture , the

Head of Guinea Delegation of ECOWAS Parliament and Co-Chair of the Joint

Committee, Hon. Alpha Souleymane Bah Fischer said the community would deal

with the challenge. He said,” the important of this meeting cannot be

overemphasized as it will address the challenges of unemployment facing our

region. Some of our citizens have died in the Mediterranean Sea due to irregular

migration. This is the reason why some of them are fleeing to the west.

“This meeting will deal with job creation and training of our youth so that they

can overcome the temptation of being trapped in the Mediterranean Sea,” he

said. He said the meeting will also equip the Parliamentary members play a

major role in job creation in the region. “This meeting will advocate and

promote skills acquisition of youths to enable them stay in their countries

rather than venture into illegal migration,” he said.

Fischer assures that the objectives of the meeting will be actualized. He

commended UNIDO for its collaboration efforts for the development of the

region. The Speaker, National Assembly of Guinea, Claude Kory Kondiano, said

the meeting was apt as the issues of unemployment have dealt a blow to the

region. He said the nation of Guinea was happy that the meeting is holding in the

country adding that it will join in the implementation of decisions reached in the

meeting.

Also speaking, Guinea Minister of Cooperation, Dr. Diene Keita, said the high

rate of unemployment is a major concern in the region while calling on the

ECOWAS lawmakers to tackle menace through their deliberations.