Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has called for immediate regional intervention in response to escalating security threats in the Sahel, rising xenophobic violence in South Africa, and persistent obstacles to free movement within the West African bloc.
Speaking under Rule 71 of Parliament’s procedures, which permits statements on matters of public interest, Afenyo-Markin—also a member of the ECOWAS Parliament—described the situation as “a moment of profound moral reckoning” for the region. He emphasised the need for both external accountability and internal reforms within Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The lawmaker referenced a February 14, 2026 attack in Titao, in northern Burkina Faso, where Ghanaian tomato traders were ambushed by militants linked to Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin. According to his account, the assailants separated male traders from female counterparts, executed the men, and set their vehicle ablaze. Several West African nationals were killed, and survivors were compelled to bury the victims locally due to ongoing insecurity.
Afenyo-Markin noted that the victims played a vital role in regional food supply chains and were later mourned at Techiman Central Market. He warned that the incident underscores broader structural vulnerabilities, particularly as critical trade routes traverse high-risk conflict zones such as the Liptako-Gourma region.
He also cited a major offensive in Mali on April 25, 2026—reportedly the largest since 2012—which targeted multiple cities and allegedly resulted in the killing of the country’s defence minister. In response to deteriorating security conditions, Ghana has suspended the movement of traders along the Mali corridor.
In light of these developments, Afenyo-Markin called on ECOWAS to establish a comprehensive civilian protection framework for traders and workers operating in high-risk areas.
Turning to southern Africa, he condemned increasing xenophobic violence in South Africa, where African migrants—including nationals of Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Ethiopia—have reportedly been subjected to attacks, looting, and displacement across several provinces. While acknowledging statements by President Cyril Ramaphosa condemning such acts, he argued that stronger enforcement measures are required, including investigations, arrests, and prosecutions.
Afenyo-Markin further criticised ECOWAS for failing to fully implement the 1979 Protocol on Free Movement of Persons. Despite provisions for visa-free travel, he noted that citizens continue to face harassment, extortion, and illegal checkpoints across member states, describing these barriers as “a de facto tax on poverty.”
He also highlighted delays in ratifying the African Union Free Movement Protocol, adopted in 2018, and described the disparity between this stagnation and the progress of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as fundamentally inconsistent. He argued that trade integration cannot be effectively realised without the free movement of people.
Urging decisive action, Afenyo-Markin called on Ghana—host of the AfCFTA Secretariat—to accelerate ratification efforts ahead of its previously indicated 2027 target.
He proposed a five-point plan, including the establishment of a special committee on the safety of ECOWAS citizens abroad, expedited ratification of the AU protocol, enforcement measures against illegal checkpoints, formal diplomatic engagement with South African authorities, and the development of a regional agricultural resilience strategy.
“The safety of our people must never be a matter open to negotiation,” he concluded.
