By: Valentia Tetteh
The Minority Leader in Ghana’s Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has led a delegation from the ECOWAS Parliament to two high-profile international forums, the Crans Montana Forum in Casablanca and the South-South Parliamentary Dialogue in Rabat, Morocco.
The Crans Montana Forum, a Swiss international NGO established in 1986, brings together global leaders in politics, business, and civil society to address pressing issues in global development. This year’s edition, held from April 24 to April 29, 2025, centered on the critical role of parliamentary diplomacy in the African Atlantic States Process.
Speaking at the Forum, Mr. Afenyo-Markin emphasized the urgent need for strengthened dialogue among nations in the Global South as a key instrument for tackling global and regional challenges.
“I am honored by this opportunity to participate in this dialogue, which has become a privileged space for exchange and collaboration, to better understand and devise tangible solutions to our shared challenges,” he stated.
Highlighting the significance of interregional and intercontinental cooperation, Mr. Afenyo-Markin added:
“The relevance of this forum is central. Dialogue in the Global South must become a foundational premise for resolving disputes through parliamentary diplomacy. It is no exaggeration to say that we face a crisis of trust.”
He continued by emphasizing the role of communication in building that trust:
“Trust with our people is built when we begin to speak their language, to address their concerns through balanced dialogue, to reconcile perceptions with facts, and misinformation with truth. In essence, trust is formed through dialogue.”
The Minority Leader noted that many of the world’s current problems, including insecurity and social unrest, stem from a lack of genuine dialogue.
“The roots of all discord lie in the absence of dialogue to understand and listen to one another. International and continental dialogues have become our instruments for entrenching peace and stability across our shared spaces.”
He also underscored the power of dialogue in addressing broader global challenges:
“I remain convinced that through dialogue, we can collectively resolve our crises and tackle greater challenges such as combating terrorism, ensuring food security, addressing migration, and reducing youth unemployment.”
Warning of the economic consequences of failed cooperation, Mr. Afenyo-Markin stressed:
“If we fail to prioritize interregional and intercontinental dialogue as a fundamental tool for resolving divergences, we will inevitably suffer the consequences, rising tariffs, inflation pressures, protectionism, and diminished competitiveness of domestic enterprises.”
He called for urgent, collective action:
“It is thus urgent to engage in dialogue on all fronts, to intensify cooperation among our states, and particularly among our parliaments. The shared destiny of our people obliges us to dialogue.”
He urged delegates to transform the forum into a Launchpad for sustainable parliamentary cooperation:
“Let us work in concert to translate the profound aspirations of our peoples into action. This forum must serve as a space to exchange and develop alternative means of understanding, especially for African nations.”
“I urge all of us to transform this forum into a platform for parliamentary faith diplomacy, one that promotes the social, economic, and cultural development of our people across the Global South.”
