Janet Samuel
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament is considering the creation of a regional legal framework on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to guide its adoption across member states, with lawmakers stressing the need to balance innovation with ethics, security, and development.
This resolution gained momentum during the 2025 Second Parliamentary Seminar of the ECOWAS Parliament, which opened in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday and continued on Tuesday under the theme: “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Parliamentary Efficiency, Ethical Governance and Development in the ECOWAS Region.” The seminar will be followed by the Second Extraordinary Session of the 6th Legislature.
Presiding over Tuesday’s deliberations, Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima, steered discussions that revolved around how the sub-region could avoid dependency on foreign-developed AI systems while ensuring the technology strengthens governance and economic growth.
Second Deputy Speaker, Hadjaratou Traore of Côte d’Ivoire, emphasized that AI should be domesticated to reflect African realities. She proposed the establishment of a regional team to harmonize ideas and design ethical frameworks to integrate AI into legislative work.
Her views were echoed by The Gambia’s Fourth Deputy Speaker, Billay Tunkara, who acknowledged that AI is now irreversible in modern society but warned of job losses if West Africa does not prepare adequately. “There is need for rigorous sensitization and enlightenment to ensure that AI becomes a tool of empowerment rather than exclusion,” he said.
Contributions from MPs across the region highlighted the urgent need for safeguards. Nigeria’s Awaji Inombek Abiante called for a legal instrument that ensures both the collection and protection of data, stressing that transparency in AI usage must start with transparent leadership. Ghana’s Laadi Ayi Ayamba voiced concerns over the implications of AI on children and the youth, urging leaders to approach its adoption with caution.
From Benin Republic, Nassirou Bako Arifari described AI as a “historic opportunity” for ECOWAS to pioneer a model law that could serve as a foundation for national legislation in member states, paving the way for what he termed a “West African AI Space.”
Experts at the seminar, including Professor Uche Mbanaso, Dr. Christian Odo, Theophilus Ukuyoma, and Kamaldeen Samaila, underscored the potential of AI in enhancing security, agriculture, healthcare, and parliamentary efficiency, but urged lawmakers to regulate its use carefully.
As the ECOWAS Parliament deliberates, the consensus remains clear: while AI offers unprecedented opportunities for development, West Africa must chart its own pathway to harness its benefits without compromising ethics, jobs, and regional integrity.
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