Ghana: Commentary Examines Outcome of ECOWAS Defense and Security Conference Accra Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Radio 1 in English 1300 GMT 21 Jul 00 GHANA BROADCASTING CORPORATION RADIO 1 Friday, July 21, 2000 Journal Code: 15 Language: ENGLISH Record Type: FULLTEXT Document Type: Daily Report; News Word Count: 550 Commentary by Henry Wood of the Information Services Department, on the just-ended meeting of the ECOWAS defense and security commission The two-day meeting of high profile military personnel from all the 15 ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) member countries ended yesterday with the formal inauguration of the defense and security commission. Established under Article 17 of the ECOWAS protocol at Lome last year, the commission is one of the three important organs of the subregional body. The two others are the Council of Elders and ECOMOG (ECOWAS Cease-Fire Monitoring Group). Those who constitute the commission are chiefs of defense staff, officers responsible for internal security, and experts of the ministry of foreign affairs of each member state. The rest are heads of immigration, customs, drug or narcotic agencies, border guards, and civil protection forces drawn from each member state of the community. The commission's terms of reference is to assist with mediation and security council of ECOWAS in order to give practical meaning to the prevention and management of conflictsAnother very important decision that emerged from the conference is the move by delegates to ensure the establishment of Council of Elders and a composite stand-by force in each member state. As stated by the executive secretary of ECOWAS, Lansana Kouyate, yesterday, it is about time the region took its destiny into her own hands. Conflict, as it is, does not respect political or geographical boundaries. We either do it now or find the region or the whole continent embroiled in social upheavals and, therefore, marginalized completely in international politics. Admittedly, the motive behind the establishment of ECOMOG, for peacekeeping and security in the West African subregion, has undoubtedly won the fullest support of all peace-loving people around the world. Fortunately, the subregion now holds the view that sustainable development growth of humanity, democracy, and good governance are deeply rooted in peace, stability, and security, which should not be sacrificed for political expediency and (?thoughtless) adventurism. The protracted conflicts that engulfed Liberia over seven years and the ongoing carnage, destruction of property, and arson in Sierra Leone, nonetheless present a perfect model for how things can go wrong in peacekeeping operations. The so-called African solution to African problems now seems to be becoming a mere mirage with the gradual replacement of ECOMOG in Sierra Leone by a multi-racial UN peacekeeping force. There is, therefore, the need for a review of the current position of ECOMOG to enable it to tackle technical and administrative problems, logistics requirements, composition of contingents, its mandate on the ground, and the appointment of a force commander, among others. It is hoped that the formal establishment of the ECOWAS defense and security commission will address, once and for all, problems bordering on immigration, customs, monetary, drugs, and other forms of organized crime that undermine peace and development of the subregion. It is now a foregone conclusion that global politics has taken a full circle and no one country can do it alone.