West African leaders have been urged to be transparent in managing the affairs of their peoples to allow peace and security to prevail.

The call was made by the Gambia’s National Assembly speaker Fabakary Tombong-Jatta. 

He was speaking yesterday (18 August) at a five-day Ecowas parliament summit in Banjul on peace and security prompted by the rising costs of living and insecurity within the sub-region.

Tombong-Jatta described peace and security “the bedrock on which all development efforts are anchored”.

“This is obvious because without peace and security, our member states will not be able to implement effective economic policies, enforce the rule of law, attract business investments, and deliver public infrastructure and services,” he said. 

“However, to achieve peace and security require first and foremost justice. This implies that our governments must be transparent in the way and manner they manage the affairs of the people, deliver governance in accordance with the dictates of the principles of democracy and rule of law and above all be accountable to the people.  

“Parliamentarians are the gatekeepers of this accountability through their legislative and oversight functions,” Tombong-Jatta added.

Yesterday, an Ecowas lawmaker said the subregional parliament was seeking to introduce a good governance legislation that will bar West African leaders from seeking a third term by manipulating their countries constitutions.

Edwin Snowe Jr, chairman of the Ecowas committee on political affairs, peace and security, said: “We are now discussing a good governance framework in this [Banjul] meeting that will encourage governments and presidents in the region to desist from [seeking] third term.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba