ECOWAS Parliament
A seven-member delegation from the ECOWAS Parliament has assured the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA) that the parliament would continue to support the institution to enable it carry out its cross-border duties in a responsible and creditable manner.
The assurance was given during a parliamentary oversight mission to the ERERA headquarters recently in Accra.
The delegation, led by Christophe Padumhekou Tchao of the Togolese National Assembly, was received by ERERA’s Regulatory Council Member (Engineer), Aly Mar Ndiaye and some staff of the institution.
The delegation included members of the national parliaments of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde and Sierra Leone, as well as staff of the ECOWAS Parliament.
Members of the delegation used the visit to improve their knowledge of ERERA, including its successes and challenges and better inform citizens in member states of the programmes and activities of ECOWAS institutions that are being carried out on their behalf.
Following the enhanced powers granted the Parliament by ECOWAS leaders in 2017, the regional parliament now has oversight functions, including those relating to budgetary matters involving ERERA and other institutions.
In this regard, the Parliament will now monitor the activities of the institutions and agencies responsible for the implementation of ECOWAS Community programmes and adopt appropriate resolutions to improve their performances.
The delegation was treated to a presentation on ERERA by Mar Ndiaye.
While answering questions by the delegation, Mr. Ndiaye explained the key areas of focus and the collaboration between ERERA, the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), the three energy institutions of ECOWAS.
He also explained the relationships between ERERA and the national regulatory authorities of member states, as well as the Consultative Committees of Regulators and Operators set up by ERERA to assist in its decision-making processes.