Mr. Samuel Dodoo, Executive Director of Media Response, a Non-Governmental Organisation, has called on Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to establish dedicated offices focused on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Dodoo emphasized that these offices would facilitate communication and information flow about ECOWAS activities between citizens and the regional and national levels.
He pointed out that such offices would address the challenges in implementing subregional protocols, particularly those related to the free movement of persons, goods, and services, ultimately maximizing the benefits of these protocols for the people.
Dodoo, speaking at a regional sensitization workshop in Bolgatanga on ECOWAS protocols, highlighted the importance of disseminating information from ECOWAS offices in Accra and Abuja to the district level. He stressed the need for focal persons at regional and district levels to enhance the relay of crucial information.
The workshop, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in collaboration with Media Response, aimed to enlighten state and non-state actors on ECOWAS protocols and conventions.
Participants included representatives from RCCs, Assemblies, security agencies, religious and traditional authorities, market women, youth, teachers, students, civil society organizations, non-governmental organizations, and the business community.
Mr. Dodoo underscored Ghana's significant contributions to ECOWAS and encouraged stakeholders to leverage the opportunities created by the protocols for economic development.
He urged media and civil society organizations to hold Ghana's representatives in ECOWAS accountable, particularly those holding seats in the ECOWAS Parliament.
Mr. Michael Kweku Owusu, Head of Technical/Claims at the Ghana National Bureau/ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme, highlighted the importance of the ECOWAS brown card for vehicles moving across member states.
He disclosed statistics indicating increased accidents involving Ghanaian vehicles in member states and vice versa.
Owusu emphasized the need for the ECOWAS brown card to ensure compensation in case of accidents and revealed that Ghana had paid GH₵1.7 million in total compensation to foreign victims.
The workshop aimed to deepen understanding of ECOWAS protocols and conventions, emphasizing their role in promoting regional peace, security, economic growth, and sustainable development in the subregion.
