Accra, Dec. 17, GNA- Speaker of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Professor Ali Nouhoum Diallo on Wednesday urged civil society to muster courage and exert pressure on Governments within the sub-region for good governance.

"Political neutrality on the part of representatives of civil society is an important asset, especially in complex political situation, which must be utilized for the defence of the interest of the masses in line with their natural calling," he said.

Prof. Diallo made the call at an ECOWAS Civil Society Forum on Peace and Security in West Africa under the theme, "The Role of the Civil Society In The West African Integration Process".

The forum organized by the ECOWAS Citizens' Union - Ghana (Association of West African Citizens) was to offer civil society the opportunity to make inputs into the 27th ECOWAS Summit of Heads of States and Government scheduled for December 19, 2003.

The ECOWAS Speaker said it was sad that after the era of coup d'etats in almost all the states, West Africa had become notorious for the past 15 years for series of armed conflicts, including those of Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Even though Heads of Government have reacted and adopted measures to address the problem, which threatened the existence of the states through the mechanism for conflict prevention, management and settlement, the masses themselves must also resist conflict. Prof. Diallo said political structures alone were not enough, "there is the need for the mobilisation of civil society at the level of member states to prevent the eruption of conflicts".

He, therefore, appealed to civil society to play active and vigilant role to ensure that the region becomes a haven of peace and security.

He commended civil society groups for the initiatives and pledged the commitment of the ECOWAS Parliament towards the realisation of its vision and goals.

Prof. Diallo emphasised that the ECOWAS Parliament needed an organised civil society at the sub-regional level, which would sound an echo distinct from that of politicians.

"Indeed the emergence of a natural partner would strengthen the Community Parliament", he said.

He encouraged the civil society to sound the alarm wherever a situation could degenerate into conflict.

Mr Sountouwung Drame, Secretary General of the Union, said the group aims at promoting integration and cooperation among the citizens and to ensure the free movement of persons and goods in the sub-region. He said the group would also establish structures to monitor policy directions of governments in the sub-region and to ensure the adherence to basic principles of good governance.

Mr Drame said the coming together of the citizens within the sub-region was a sign of the determination and commitment of the people to change the precarious situation for the betterment of the ordinary man.

He said the achievement of the sub-regional body over the past 27 years were quite commendable but regretted that it had not reflected in the life of citizens.

Mr Drame said "the ordinary citizen is subjected to constant harassment, insults, humiliation and extortion of hard-won money by unscrupulous agents of States at the numerous check points and borders. "The Union is born out of the frustration of the ordinary West African to stand up and fight against nepotism and also to ensure that all protocols and agreements signed by governments are adhered to".

Other members of the union included Chief Issaka Rayame, Vice President, Mr Mamadon Samba Diallo, Deputy Secretary for Information, Mr Iddrisu Mohammed Saani, Organising Secretary, Camadeu Dieuf Seueraie, member and Mr Vinyinkor Kofi Amenyille, secretary in charge of youth and sports.

The forum was attended by citizens from the sub-region in Ghana, Diplomats, Politicians, Journalists and other non-governmental groups with their representatives from Benin, Togo and Nigeria.