Afenyo-Markin urges ECOWAS action over killings, xenophobia and border barriers

The Minority Leader of Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called for urgent and coordinated regional action in response to escalating security threats, xenophobic violence, and persistent barriers to free movement across West Africa.

Speaking under Rule 71 of Parliament’s procedures—reserved for matters of urgent public interest—Afenyo-Markin, who also serves as a member of the ECOWAS Parliament, described the current situation as “a moment of profound moral reckoning” for the region.

The lawmaker highlighted a deadly attack that occurred on February 14, 2026, in Titao, northern Burkina Faso. According to his account, Ghanaian tomato traders traveling through the region were ambushed by militants linked to Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin.

He recounted that the attackers reportedly separated men from women, executed the men, and set their vehicle ablaze. Several West African nationals were killed in the incident, while survivors were forced to bury the victims locally due to ongoing insecurity that prevented authorities from accessing the area.

The victims, many of whom were key players in regional agricultural supply chains, were later mourned at Techiman Central Market in Ghana. Afenyo-Markin warned that the tragedy underscores broader structural risks, particularly as major food trade routes pass through volatile conflict zones such as the Liptako-Gourma region, where extremist activity remains high.

He also raised alarm over a major military offensive in Mali on April 25, 2026, described as the largest since 2012. The attacks reportedly targeted multiple cities and resulted in significant casualties, including the killing of the country’s defence minister.

In response to the deteriorating security situation, Ghana has suspended the movement of traders along the Mali corridor, a key route for regional commerce.

Afenyo-Markin stressed the need for Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to establish a civilian protection framework specifically designed to safeguard traders and workers operating in high-risk areas.

Beyond the Sahel, the Minority Leader condemned increasing xenophobic attacks in South Africa. He noted that African migrants—including Ghanaians, Nigerians, Zimbabweans, and Ethiopians—have faced violence, looting, and displacement in several provinces.

Fatalities have been confirmed, including Nigerian nationals, while widely circulated videos show assaults on foreign nationals and destruction of property.

Although he acknowledged statements by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa condemning xenophobia and calling for calm, Afenyo-Markin insisted that stronger, concrete actions are required.

“Words do not arrest perpetrators,” he said, urging authorities to prioritise investigations, arrests, and prosecutions to restore confidence and protect lives.

Turning attention to regional integration, Afenyo-Markin criticised ECOWAS for failing to fully implement its 1979 Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons. While the policy guarantees visa-free travel within member states, he argued that citizens continue to face harassment, extortion, and illegal checkpoints across borders.

“These barriers amount to a de facto tax on poverty,” he stated, highlighting how such practices undermine economic opportunity and regional unity.

He also expressed concern over the slow pace of ratification of the African Union Free Movement Protocol, adopted in 2018. According to him, the lack of progress contradicts the ambitions of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to boost intra-African trade.

He argued that trade liberalisation cannot succeed without the free movement of people and urged Ghana—host of the AfCFTA Secretariat—to accelerate ratification ahead of its 2027 target.

To address these interconnected challenges, Afenyo-Markin proposed a five-point plan, including:

• The establishment of a special ECOWAS committee focused on the safety of citizens abroad
• Accelerated ratification of the AU Free Movement Protocol
• Strong enforcement against illegal checkpoints and cross-border harassment
• A formal diplomatic engagement with South African authorities on xenophobic violence
• The development of a regional agricultural resilience strategy to protect food supply chains

“The safety of our people must never be a matter open to negotiation,” he concluded.