Ghana's Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has advocated for the direct election of ECOWAS Parliament members to deepen democratic participation and strengthen representation in the sub-regional body. He made this call on behalf of him, at the opening of the Second Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament for 2026, in Accra. The event, which is also the Sixth Legislature, the Second 2026 Parliamentary Seminar, has the theme “Climate Change as a Driver of Environmental Degradation, Population Displacement and Rising Insecurity in the ECOWAS Region.”
The Speaker of Parliament emphasized that allowing citizens across the 12-member bloc to directly elect their representatives to the Community Parliament will give the institution a stronger democratic foundation. This, he explained, will enhance popular participation in the regional integration process. According to him, direct election will bridge the widening gap between ECOWAS citizens and ECOWAS institutions by giving people a direct role in determining who represents their interests at the regional level.
The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Andrew Amoako Asiamah, delivered Speaker Bagbin’s call. He stated that Ghana fully supported the proposal for a gradual introduction of direct elections. The Parliament of Ghana believes that the future of regional integration must be anchored in stronger democratic participation backed by their people. For this reason, they support the progressive realisation of direct election of members to the ECOWAS Parliament.
A direct electoral process, according to Mr Asiamah, would significantly strengthen the legitimacy and authority of the ECOWAS Parliament. Currently, the ECOWAS Parliament is composed of members nominated by national parliaments. The direct electoral process will give citizens a more meaningful voice in regional governance. This proposal aligns with the broader objective of making regional integration more participatory, responsive, and accountable to the needs and aspirations of over 400 million West Africans.
The ECOWAS Parliament, also known as the Community Parliament, is the legislative arm of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). It serves as a forum for dialogue, consultation, and consensus for the people of West Africa to promote regional integration. The convergence, which started on Monday, September 21, will end on Sunday, September 27, 2026.
The ECOWAS Parliament's current composition and the proposed change have significant implications for regional governance. The direct election of members will provide citizens with a greater say in regional decision-making processes. This, in turn, will promote a more inclusive and representative regional integration process.
The proposal for direct election of ECOWAS Parliament members is a critical reform aimed at deepening democracy in the region. If implemented, it will provide a stronger democratic foundation for the ECOWAS Parliament and enhance popular participation in regional integration.
Key points
- The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, advocates for the direct election of ECOWAS Parliament members.
- The proposed direct election aims to deepen democratic participation and strengthen representation in the sub-regional body.
- Ghana fully supports the proposal for a gradual introduction of direct elections to the ECOWAS Parliament.
