The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima, has emphasized the need for stronger efforts to address climate change in West Africa. Speaking in Accra at the opening of the Second 2026 Parliamentary Seminar of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament, she noted that climate change is no longer an abstract environmental concern but a harsh reality affecting the lives and livelihoods of people across the region.
Climate change is manifesting in various ways, including declining agricultural productivity, coastal erosion, flooding, loss of livelihoods, and displacement of communities. The Speaker stressed that the seven-day meeting should focus on understanding the impact of climate change on communities and identifying practical responses to mitigate its effects. She highlighted the need for the region to move beyond theoretical discussions and develop concrete actions to protect the living conditions, dignity, and security of populations.
The central question confronting the region is how to protect the living conditions, dignity, and security of populations whose environments are changing faster than their ability to adapt. The Speaker emphasized the importance of combining technical expertise with the experiences of parliamentarians who remain closely connected to their constituents and communities. This, she believes, will enable the development of meaningful and practical proposals to address climate change.
The Parliamentary Seminar and the Second Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament for 2026 are being held in Accra from September 21 to 27, 2026. The program includes discussions on high-risk areas and vulnerabilities, the ECOWAS regulatory and institutional framework for climate action, drought, land degradation, and food insecurity. Participants will also examine national approaches to forest conservation and ecosystem restoration.
On the second day of the seminar, participants will focus on climate governance and financing, while the final day will examine the relationship between climate change, security, human security, and displacement. The Speaker acknowledged Ghana's Founder's Day, which coincided with the opening of the seminar, and paid tribute to Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
The Speaker recalled Dr. Nkrumah's vision of a free and united Africa and emphasized the need for regional cooperation to address climate change. She stressed that the expertise shared during the seminar should inform discussions and meet the experience of parliamentarians who remain in close contact with their territories and people.
The ECOWAS Parliament's efforts to address climate change are crucial for the region's development and security. The Speaker's call for practical responses to climate change is a timely reminder of the need for urgent action to mitigate its effects.
Key points
- ECOWAS Parliament Speaker Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima calls for practical regional responses to climate change.
- Climate change is affecting the lives and livelihoods of people across West Africa.
- The ECOWAS Parliament is holding a seminar in Accra to discuss climate change and develop practical responses.
