Janet Samuel
The ECOWAS Parliament has begun a high-level regional meeting in Monrovia, Liberia, aimed at tackling the persistent and growing challenge of unemployment across West Africa, particularly among youth.
Opening the joint committee session on Monday, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Memounatou Ibrahima, represented by the Fourth Deputy Speaker, Billa Tunkara, sounded the alarm over rising joblessness, warning that it threatens social cohesion and undermines regional integration.
“Despite recent economic growth, unemployment continues to rise—especially among young people. If left unaddressed, it could undermine the prosperity we aspire to achieve,” Tunkara said. He cited data showing youth unemployment rates reaching up to 30% in some ECOWAS countries, with overall unemployment averaging around 15% in the region.
The meeting, themed “Assessing the Effectiveness of the ECOWAS Investment Policy (EIP) as a Panacea for Addressing the Rising Levels of Unemployment”, brings together the Parliament’s Joint Committee on Administration, Finance and Budget, Public Accounts, Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research, Industry, and Private Sector. Their mission is to critically evaluate the ECOWAS Investment Policy, a key instrument designed to stimulate economic growth and create sustainable jobs.
Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr., Head of the Liberian Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, also addressed the gathering, describing unemployment as “not just an economic concern; it is a social emergency that undermines peace, fuels migration, and erodes hope.” He stressed that Liberia feels the weight of the crisis, with too many talented youths lacking viable opportunities.
While acknowledging that there has been “encouraging progress” in attracting investment flows and implementing policy reforms, the Speaker noted that the impact on employment remains limited. “We must interrogate why the investment coming into our countries is not translating into decent jobs,” she said through her representative.
Several structural challenges were outlined, including limited institutional capacity, poor infrastructure, limited access to finance—especially for SMEs—and a mismatch between investments and high-employment sectors. “Even where jobs are created, they often fall short of the standards of decent work,” Tunkara added.
To address these gaps, the Parliament is pushing for stronger institutional frameworks, better alignment of investment with job-rich sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and services, and targeted support for SMEs. “SMEs are the engine of employment; without them, our economies cannot grow inclusively,” said one participant.
The meeting also calls for enhanced collaboration among member states to build a unified investment environment. “We must harmonise regulations and eliminate redundancies that discourage cross-border investments,” Senator Snowe added, urging for collective growth over internal competition.
Liberia’s hosting of the meeting, shortly after securing a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, added symbolic significance. “It reflects Liberia’s enduring commitment to peace, diplomacy, and regional development,” Senator Snowe said.
With mounting economic pressures and growing youth discontent, ECOWAS parliamentarians see this gathering as a strategic turning point. “This is not just an advocacy exercise,” Tunkara concluded. “It is a call to transform policies into tangible realities—creating jobs, empowering youth, and building resilient economies across our beloved sub-region.”
