Lawmakers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament and artificial intelligence (AI) experts have called for urgent strategies to mitigate the risks of AI while maximizing its benefits for governance, development, and security in the region.
The discussions formed part of the 2025 Second Parliamentary Seminar of the ECOWAS Parliament, which began in Port Harcourt with the theme: “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Parliamentary Efficiency, Ethical Governance and Development in the ECOWAS Region.”
Presiding over the session, Speaker of the Parliament, Rt. Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima, said the deliberations were crucial as West Africa grapples with the global realities of AI adoption.
The Deputy Speaker, Hadjaratou Traore, cautioned that while AI holds opportunities for efficiency, the region must carefully adapt it to its own context.
“AI should be a tool that could be integrated into our parliamentary business,” Traore said. “But we must be mindful that this technology was developed by Asian and Western countries who control its use. Our focus should be on how to domesticate and mainstream it, taking into account ethics.”
Gambian lawmaker and Fourth Deputy Speaker, Billay Tunkara, noted that AI has become a permanent fixture in global development but warned against its unintended consequences.
“AI has come to stay, and we must find a way to mitigate its risks,” he said. “There is need for rigorous sensitization and enlightenment to ensure it does not lead to massive job losses in our region.”
Nigerian MP Awaji Inombek Abiante stressed the need for legislation to regulate data collection and protection in the use of AI.
“AI will help us track government activities in real time and fight corruption. But if leaders themselves are not transparent, the systems cannot guarantee accountability,” he argued.
Ghanaian MP, Laadi Ayi Ayamba, warned of the dangers of embracing AI without caution.
“This is not something we should adopt wholeheartedly and forget who we are,” she said. “Let us be cautious for the sake of our children and youth. AI is a good idea, but we must be careful.”
On his part, Beninese MP Nassirou Bako Arifari called the rise of AI a “historical opportunity” for the ECOWAS Parliament to take the lead in drafting a model AI law for West Africa.
“This should be the first step toward the creation of a West African AI Space,” he suggested.
Our Correspondent reports that the seminar featured expert presentations on AI applications in security, parliamentary oversight, healthcare, and agriculture, and will be followed by the 2025 Second Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Port Harcourt.
Sandra Chukwugekwu
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