Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Third Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, has officially handed over leadership of Ghana’s delegation to the regional body to Honourable Kwaku Ricketts Hagan. The handover took place on Wednesday, August 23, 2026, during the 2026 Second Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament and Second 2026 Parliamentary Seminar held in Accra, Ghana.
In his address, Mr. Afenyo-Markin reflected on his tenure, stating that his journey in the parliament had strengthened his conviction that the institution must remain close to the people it serves.
He emphasised that regional integration must be understood beyond treaties, protocols, and institutional meetings, stressing that its true value must be felt in communities through opportunities for young people, the movement of citizens and businesses across borders, and collective responses to shared challenges.
The outgoing leader also highlighted the importance of addressing the relationship between environmental stress and insecurity without reducing every conflict to climate change alone.
He noted that climate change can intensify existing pressures such as poverty, deepen competition over land and water, and weaken livelihoods, underscoring the need for comprehensive approaches to regional stability.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin further championed the practice of taking parliamentary work beyond national capitals, describing it as an evolving tradition. He recounted how Winneba, the capital of his constituency, hosted ECOWAS Parliament activities on four occasions, including a parliamentary seminar and extraordinary sessions in 2021, which allowed traditional authorities, the University of Education, Winneba, businesses, and young people to engage directly with the community parliament.
Handing over to his colleague, Mr. Afenyo-Markin expressed full confidence in Honourable Kwaku Ricketts Hagan, who is the Member of Parliament for Cape Coast South and Deputy Majority Leader of Ghana’s Parliament.
He praised the incoming leader’s experience, commitment to parliamentary diplomacy, and understanding of regional integration, assuring him of his continuous support and goodwill.
In closing, Mr. Afenyo-Markin emphasised that leadership is ultimately about service and continuity, expressing no doubt that under Mr. Hagan’s leadership, Ghana’s delegation would continue to contribute meaningfully to the ECOWAS Parliament’s work. He reaffirmed his own commitment as a member and Third Deputy Speaker, wishing all participants successful deliberations and declaring, “Long live ECOWAS Parliament, long live the Community of West African States, long live our shared vision of a united West Africa.”
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/EcowasNewsOnline.com
