Climate change and environmental degradation are deepening the risks of displacement and insecurity across West Africa, with lawmakers at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament urging governments to move beyond national responses and adopt stronger regional solutions.
The warning came as the ECOWAS Parliament opened its Second Parliamentary Seminar and Second Extraordinary Session for 2026 in Accra, Ghana.
George Hagan, Leader of the Ghanaian delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, said the region was facing ‘several intricate and interconnected challenges’ requiring collective action, political dialogue and stronger regional cooperation.
Hagan, who welcomed delegates on behalf of John Mahama, Ghana’s President, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang Vice President, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament and the Ghanaian Parliament, said the meeting provided an opportunity to strengthen the parliamentary dimension of regional integration.
He said the participation of parliamentarians from ECOWAS member states demonstrated their shared commitment to the ideals of regional integration and the use of parliamentary diplomacy to address challenges confronting West African citizens.
According to him, the ECOWAS Parliament has an important responsibility to ensure that the voices, aspirations and concerns of citizens are reflected in regional decision-making.
‘Parliamentarians occupy a unique position within our democratic systems. We are not only legislators, but also representatives of the people, and important actors in promoting dialogue, accountability, good governance, peaceful resolution of differences and positive socio-economic and environmental development of our respective countries and the West Africa sub-region in general,’ he said.
Hagan said the role of the regional parliament had become increasingly important because many of the challenges confronting West Africa could not be effectively addressed by individual countries acting independently.
He identified climate change, environmental degradation, population displacement and insecurity as interconnected challenges requiring coordinated responses across the region.
The Ghanaian lawmaker said the parliamentary seminar and extraordinary session would provide an avenue for lawmakers to deliberate on matters of common interest and develop approaches capable of strengthening cooperation among member states.
He urged participants to use the gathering to reinforce the principles of regional solidarity, democratic governance, peace, security and sustainable development.
The seminar comes amid growing concerns across West Africa over the impact of environmental pressures and climate-related challenges on livelihoods, migration and security.
For countries already dealing with displacement and insecurity, the interaction between environmental degradation and socio-economic vulnerabilities has increasingly become a regional concern, requiring governments and regional institutions to adopt responses that go beyond national boundaries.
Hagan said parliamentarians had a particularly important role in this process because of their responsibility to represent citizens while providing oversight and contributing to policy development.
He noted that parliamentary diplomacy could help deepen dialogue among ECOWAS member states and provide a platform for lawmakers to address shared concerns and promote peaceful solutions to regional challenges.
‘The ECOWAS Parliament therefore has an important role to play in bringing the voices, aspirations and concerns of our citizens closer to the regional decision-making process,’ he said.
He added that the responsibility was even more significant at a time when West Africa was confronted with challenges that crossed national borders.
Hagan expressed confidence that deliberations during the seminar and extraordinary session would produce meaningful outcomes capable of contributing to the collective efforts of ECOWAS countries.
He also called for stronger parliamentary cooperation in addressing environmental and security challenges, while reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to the regional integration process.
‘Let us seize this opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment to regional solidarity, democratic governance, peace, security and sustainable development,’ he said.
The Ghanaian delegation leader also welcomed the Speaker, Deputy Speakers and members of the ECOWAS Parliament, representatives of ECOWAS institutions, members of Ghana’s Parliament, government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and other participants to Accra.
He urged delegates to take advantage of Ghana’s hospitality during the meeting and encouraged them to visit tourist attractions in and around Accra.
The gathering is expected to provide a platform for lawmakers to examine the environmental, social and security dimensions of climate-related challenges and their implications for regional stability and integration.
Hagan said Ghana was honoured to host the parliamentary gathering and expressed hope that the discussions would strengthen cooperation among lawmakers and contribute to addressing the interconnected challenges confronting the West African sub-region.