The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), on Thursday, vowed to put an end to incessant deaths of its citizens in the Mediterranean Sea.
The regional body, which expressed concern over the death of its citizens in the sea, attributed it to irregular migration to foreign countries as a result of high rate of unemployment in the region .
It would be recalled that the region had, in the last few years, recorded numerous deaths of its citizens, who were looking for greener pasture abroad, in the Mediterranean Sea.
Speaking at the opening session of the Delocalised meeting of the Joint Committee on Communications and Information Technology, Education , Science and Technology, Labour , Employment , Youth, Sports and Culture, in Guinea Conakry, the Head of Guinean Delegation of ECOWAS Parliament and Co-Chair of the joint committee, Hon. Alpha Souleymane Bah Fischer, said the community was ready to deal with the challenge.
According to him, the importance of this meeting cannot be overemphasised as it will address the challenges of unemployment facing our region.
”Some of our citizens have died in the Mediterranean Sea due to irregular migration caused by unemployment. This is the reason why some of them are fleeing to the west.
“This meeting will deal with issues of job creation and training of our youth so that they can overcome the temptation of being trapped in the Mediterranean Sea,” he said.
He remarked that the meeting will also equip the parliamentary members to play a major role in job creation in the region .
“This meeting will advocate and promote skills acquisition of youths to enable them stay in their countries rather than venture into illegal migration,” he added.
Fischer assured that the objectives of the meeting will be actualised .
He commended UNIDO for its collaborative efforts for the development of the region.
The Speaker, National Assembly of Guinea, Claude Kory Kondiano, said the meeting is apt as the issues of unemployment has dealt a blow to the region.
He said the nation of Guinea was happy that the meeting is holding in the country adding that it will join in the implementation of decisions reached in the meeting.
Also speaking, Guinean Minister of Cooperation, Dr. Diene Keita, said the high rate of unemployment is a major concern in the region while calling on the ECOWAS lawmakers to tackle the menace through their deliberations.
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