The third Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has called on lawmakers across the Global South to adopt parliamentary diplomacy and interregional dialogue as essential tools for achieving peace, security, and shared development.
He said the growing complexity of global challenges, including trade protectionism, youth unemployment, terrorism, and migration, demands closer regional collaboration and unified legislative action to safeguard the future of developing economies.
Mr Afenyo-Markin who is also the Minority Speaker of Ghana’s parliament made the call when he delivered the keynote address at the Third Edition of the South-South Parliamentary Dialogue Forum, held at the headquarters of the Moroccan House of Councillors in Rabat, Morocco.
The high-level forum, held under the theme “Interregional and intercontinental dialogues in the Global South: A vital lever to address new challenges of international cooperation and achieve peace, security, stability, and shared development,” brought together parliamentary leaders from across continents to develop frameworks for joint action.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said “Trust is built when we begin to speak the language of our people, address their concerns, and reconcile perceptions with facts. Dialogue is the foundation for peace.”
He urged nations of the South to unite in pursuing inclusive development.
He argued that interregional dialogue has become indispensable in confronting rising inflation, geopolitical uncertainty, and shrinking global supply chains, all of which disproportionately affect economies in the Global South.
The lawmaker also warned that failure to institutionalise such cooperation could result in deeper economic instability.
Mr Afenyo-Markin also proposed that platforms like the Association of Senates, Shura and Equivalent Councils of Africa and the Arab World (ASSECAA) be used to “dispel misunderstandings, foster solidarity, and transform people’s aspirations into legislative action.”
He further commended King Mohammed VI of Morocco for making interregional integration a central pillar of the country’s foreign policy, noting that Morocco’s leadership continues to shape the future of Global South cooperation.
“Morocco’s efforts under King Mohammed VI’s leadership demonstrate how interregional partnerships can be harnessed for stability and sustainable development,” he added.
The forum, jointly organised by the House of Councillors and ASSECAA, took place from April 28 to 29, 2025.
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