ECOWAS parlia­ments have been urged to proac­tively formulate policies that would help ad­dress the root causes of instability in the Sub-region.This was contained in a state­ment presented on the floor of Parliament on Thursday by the Ho West Member of Parliament, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, to commemorate ECOWAS @ 50 celebrations."Our people are looking up to us not only for laws and debates, but for progress and policy directions that would promote inclusive governance that em­powers all segments of society to foster sustainable development that benefits present and future generations," he said.Mr Bedzrah said Members of ECOWAS, must rise to this occasion not merely as political actors, but as the stewards of the region and hold the Executive Arm of government accountable to the people they serve, to en­sure transparency, responsiveness, and meaningful participation in decision-making processes.Mr Bedzrah, who is also a Member of the ECOWAS Parliament said actively engag­ing in conflict resolution efforts, promoting dialogue, mediation, and reconciliation as alternatives to violence and confrontation would greatly restore trust among member states and between gov­ernments and their citizens."We need to, demonstrate the political will to act decisively, collectively, and with a sense of urgency in the face of these unprecedented challenges, this is not a time for despair but a time for leadership, moral vision and courage for vision.He indicated that the West Africa's regional bloc, ECOWAS faces disintegration with grow­ing fragmentation resulting from challenges to political unrest, security threats, and the with­drawal or break away of countries from the bloc by Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso in a joint statement in January 2025 "without delay", following the military coups."This is a time for critical introspection, a time to acknowl­edge not only the considerable achievements that have marked our path but also the complex and multifaceted challenges that now confront us, threatening to derail the very progress we have so diligently pursued as we celebrate this golden jubilee, we are remind­ed of our shared aspirations for peace, development, and prosperi­ty," he added."We, as parliamentarians, must accept our share of responsibility in this regard and must acknowl­edge that we have not always lived up to the expectations of our citizens, and we must commit ourselves to doing better as the erosion of public trust in our institutions, including parliaments, is a serious and deeply concerning issue that must be addressed with the utmost urgency," he added. BY; LAWRENCE VOMAFA-AKPALU