Africa-Press – Liberia. Members of the ECOWAS Parliament are meeting in Monrovia to discuss investment and youth unemployment in the region.
The head of the Liberian delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, Senator Edwin M. Snowe, Jr., has described the opening of the Parliament sitting in Monrovia as a great and national pride for Liberia.
Addressing participants Monday, 16 June at the start of the sitting, Senator Snowe recalled that just recently, Liberia achieved a historic milestone with its election to the United Nations Security Council as a Non-permanent member.
“This is only the second time in our nation’s history that we have secured such a seat, and it is a resounding affirmation of Liberia’s enduring commitment to global peace, diplomacy, and international cooperation”, he adds.
He says across the sub-region, unemployment especially, among youth is not just an economic concern, but a social emergency that undermines peace, fuels migration, and erodes hope.
Senator Snowe reveals that a recent data shows that youth unemployment in West Africa ranks among the highest in the world, despite abundance of natural resources, human capital, and entrepreneurial spirit in the region.
He notes that the Joint Committee Meeting is a critical platform to evaluate the ECOWAS Investment Policy (EIP), to understand its strengths, identify its limitations, and propose practical, impactful reforms.
“Our shared task is to ensure that this policy truly delivers on its promise by attracting quality investment, supporting private sector growth, and creating decent sustainable jobs for our people”, he explains.
“In Liberia, we feel the effects of unemployment”, he notes, adding that too many young people in Liberia are talented and ambitious, but they are without opportunity.
However, Senator Snowe says with the right mix of policy reforms, investment incentives, and regional collaboration, the regional bloc can change this narrative, not only for Liberia, but for the entire ECOWAS community.
For his part, the fourth speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Mr. Tunkara Billay, calls on member states to reflect on the challenges that have engulfed youths across the region.
“Ladies and Gentlemen: let us reflect together of the unique and pressing challenges that continue to confront our region – particularly, the issue of unemployment, and the urgent need to harness the opportunities of ECOWAS Investment Policy in addressing unemployment in our region.”
He discloses that the critical issue that member states should take into consideration during this meeting is not only about the need for investment, but how they can harness and also leverage the ECOWAS Investment Policy to produce concrete benefits for their citizens especially, in the form of decent, sustainable jobs.
According to him, the ECOWAS Investment Policy is adopted to foster a harmonized and transparent investment environment across West Africa; provide an important framework to attract private capital, stimulate intra-regional trade, and promote inclusive economic transformation.
“Dear colleagues, as a regional Parliament, our role is to ensure that the implementation of this policy reflects national priorities, responds to the needs of our citizens, and aligns with our regional integration goals”, he emphasizes.
On behalf of the ECOWAS Speaker, Mr. Billay reaffirms the regional block’s unwavering commitment to supporting policy frameworks that deliver real development outcomes, adding, “We are here to listen; to learn, and to lead the charge for reforms that ensure that investment is more impactful in the lives of our community citizens.”
In remarks, Liberia’s Senate President Pro-Tempore, Madam Nyobele Karnga Lawrence, thanks ECOWAS for selecting Liberia to host its sitting, saying “Your engagement and guidance were not only timely, but also deeply reflective of the values of dialogue, mutual respect, and democratic consolidation that underpin the ECOWAS Parliament.”
Pro-Tempore Karnga Lawrance says the Joint Committee Meeting, under the Theme “Assessing the Effectiveness of the ECOWAS investment Policy as instrument for addressing the rising Levels of Unemployment in the Sub-Region,” touches the very core of our regional challenges.
She reveals that the Liberian Senate has prioritized legal frameworks that examine gaps in the country’s investment frameworks and, more importantly, to align strategies that meaningfully address joblessness, poverty, and migration pressures.
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