The Vice President of the Economic Community of West Africa State, Dr Toga McIntosh, has urged citizens of member states to exercise and protect their fundamental human rights using the platform of the organisation.
McIntosh made the remarks in a statement on Saturday.
He said citizens had numerous unexplored opportunities through their countries' membership of the 15-nation organisation.
He said, "There are numerous opportunities and mechanisms available to you through your countries' membership of this organisation. The Community Court of Justice is where you can take cases against organisations or your own state after exhausting domestic legal options.
"There is also the ECOWAS Parliament, an assembly of lawmakers currently chosen from the legislature of Member States. In the next two years, members of the regional parliament would be elected directly by community citizens themselves.
"This is in line with the new vision of an ECOWAS of people, as against an ECOWAS of states."
McIntosh also challenged the youths to take advantage of the promising business opportunities and the community's huge market potential that make the region a major player in the global space.
The ECOWAS Commissioner for Trade, Free Movement and Tourism, Mr. Hamid Ahmed advised the gathering not to be afraid of enforcing their rights as this was the only way of entrenching democracy in their countries because "it takes more than one person to commit corruption."
The Acting Director of Communication of the organisation, Mr. Sunny Ugoh took the gathering through the organisation's structure, objectives, programmes and activities.
Twelve ECOWAS member countries along with hundreds of companies, traders, manufacturers, investors and industrialists showcased their products and services during the 7th ECOWAS Trade Fair which held in Accra, Ghana.
The fair was instituted to boost intra-community trade which presently hovers between 11 and 15 per cent, and also to facilitate the implementation of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme.
There is no better advice ECOWAS can give now. They've done really well for their organisation also, kudos!
Exercising of rights as a citizen is important!
Exercising of human rights is something all citizens of a country must do to make things right in this country.
ECOWAS should try as much as possible to spread this gospel to every citizen who cares to know.
I don't agree with the word URGED at all. If they don't exercise their right themeselves, who will do that on their behalf?