Alexander Afenyo-Markin
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, is in Abuja, Nigeria, participating in the 2026 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament, currently underway as part of the bloc’s Sixth Legislature.
The high-level session, which runs from May 4 to May 17, 2026, has drawn representatives from across member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to deliberate on critical regional issues affecting the sub-region.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin is attending the session in his capacity as Third Deputy Speaker of the regional parliament, where discussions are expected to focus on strengthening cooperation and addressing pressing concerns confronting West African citizens.
Key among the issues on the agenda are the protection of individuals engaged in cross-border trade, the security of West African nationals living and working abroad, and the enhancement of regional frameworks to guarantee the dignity, safety and freedom of movement of citizens within the sub-region.
In a statement, the Minority Leader reaffirmed his commitment to the principles underpinning the ECOWAS Treaty, emphasising the importance of regional integration and collective action in tackling shared challenges.
He stressed the need for sustained collaboration among member states to ensure that citizens can live, work and trade freely across borders without fear, in line with the core vision of ECOWAS.
The session is expected to produce recommendations aimed at deepening regional integration, improving security coordination and reinforcing policies that promote economic activity across borders.
By Ernest Kofi Adu
