Establishment of youth parliament sparks rowdy session as parliamentarians disagree

It was a rowdy session today at the ongoing High-level Parliamentary seminar organised by the ECOWAS Parliament at Winneba, Ghana, as Members of Parliament disagreed with a Presentation on the need to establish a Youth Parliament in the West African sub-region

It all started when the third Deputy Speaker, Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima from Togo pointed out that the presentation was not presented to the bureau.

The West Africa Youth Alliance was represented by Mary Onwu from Nigeria and supported by her colleagues from Ghana who were present for the presentation.

The third Deputy Speaker explained that she is not against the youth of the sub-region wanting to establish a Youth Parliament; but it should be done properly, and not a few selected youths wanting to establish a parliament without taking into account the views of the entire sub-regional youths.

“If you want to succeed, you need to revisit the formation of this association and it should involve all members. You need to do it well”, she pointed out.

Another member of Parliament from Nigeria, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, also backed the third Deputy Speaker’s stand and pointed out the need for proper housekeeping and self-auditing.

He added that anything coming to the parliament should go through the proper channel.

The First deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase who presided over the proceedings intervened and pleaded with his colleagues to let this pass as they will deal with the issue at a closed-door session.

The drama got heated as each MPs intervention was not taking kindly to what was unfolding.

When the youth group was reached out to by journalists, they expressed surprise at the way things had turn up.

Recall that at the opening ceremony of the High-level Seminar, Speaker Sidie Tunis, mentioned that a youth Parliament would be inaugurated.

But the representative of the youths said in paragraph 10 the Speaker in his speech said they will make their presentation to members of parliament during the Seminar.

The Speakers Speech reads: “We must also be sensitive to the situation if young people in our society, who face poverty, barriers to education, many forms of discrimination as well as limited job prospect and opportunities, leaving them susceptible to engaging in anti-democratic initiative.

“In response to the growing understanding of the value of youth in building resilience and peaceful societies, especially across our region, the ECOWAS Parliament is collaborating with Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), led by Oxfam and its partners, including the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), campaign for Human Rights and Development International (CHRDI), and the West Africa Youth Alliance, to establish the ECOWAS Youth Parliament.

“The establishment of the Youth Parliament, which is aligned with the ECOWAS Strategic Objective #5 building ECOWAS into a Community of People fully inclusive of Women, children and youth”, will facilitate the active participation of youths across the region in achieving the Community vision, in coordination with the ECOWAS Parliament”.