By Gloria Ikibah
Lawmakers from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and artificial intelligence (AI) experts have outlined strategies to curb the potential dangers of AI, this is as they called for the need to protect the region’s institutions and citizens as the technology rapidly reshapes global society.
This was the crux of discussions at the ongoing 2025 Second Parliamentary Seminar of the ECOWAS Parliament, with the theme: “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Parliamentary Efficiency, Ethical Governance and Development in the ECOWAS Region”, on Tuesday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. 
The seminar will be followed by the Second Extraordinary Session of the 6th Legislature in the oil-rich city.
Tuesday proceedings was presided over by Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Memounatou Ibrahima, as members considered how to shield the region from harmful applications of AI, particularly its potential to disrupt critical sectors and trigger job losses in economies already struggling with high unemployment.
Presentations were delivered by experts including Professor Uche Mbanaso, a cyber-security and computing specialist; Dr Christian Odo, an ICT consultant; Theophilus Ukuyoma; and Kamaldeen Samaila. Their papers covered topics ranging from AI in security to its role in parliamentary oversight, healthcare, and agriculture.
Leading the debate, Second Deputy Speaker, Hon. Hadjaratou Traore observed that AI was becoming increasingly embedded in administration and should be explored as a tool for parliamentary work.
“AI should be a tool that could be integrated in our parliamentary business,” she said.
The Ivorian lawmaker cautioned, however, that the region must be wary of the fact that AI technologies are largely created and controlled by Asian and Western powers. She argued that West Africa’s priority should be to domesticate and adapt the technology to local needs, while upholding ethical standards.
She called for the establishment of a regional team to devise strategies for integrating AI into legislative management, and urged the creation of a legislative framework tailored to the specific needs of each member state. According to her, this, will allow parliaments across the region to systematically incorporate AI into their operations.
Fourth Deputy Speaker, Hon. Billay Tunkara, described AI as a defining feature of the modern world that cannot be ignored.
“AI has become the rave of the modern world,” said the Gambian lawmaker. It has come to stay and the region must find a way to mitigate its risks”, he said.
He stressed, however, that “there is need for rigorous sensitisation and enlightenment” to prevent AI from worsening unemployment by displacing workers.
Also contributing, Nigerian MP, Hon. Awaji Inombek Abiante pressed for a clear legal instrument to support both data collection and data protection, and warned that the credibility of AI’s use in governance would depend on transparency in leadership itself.
“If the region wants to use AI to achieve transparency, then transparency should begin with the leadership recruitment process.
“AI will help us track the activities of government and governance structures in real time and help us fight corruption. But if we have leaders who are not transparent in their conscience, leaders who are corrupt and not interested in revealing the truth it will be difficult to guarantee systems that will be transparent,” he said.
Ghanaian lawmaker, Hon. Laadi Ayi Ayamba acknowledged that AI represents the future, but voiced strong concerns about the risks of its deployment, particularly its impact on young people. She called on leaders across the region to remain alert to the potential consequences of adopting the technology without restraint.
“This is not something that we should embrace wholeheartedly and forget about who we are. It is not solely a benefit to us. Let us be cautious of embracing AI for the future of our children. It is a good idea but we must be careful,” she cautioned.
Adding his perspective, Beninese MP, Hon. Nassirou Bako Arifari argued that despite AI’s possible downsides, it also offers a significant opportunity for the region.
He said the technology provides “a historical opportunity for the ECOWAS Parliament to draft a model law for the region through which other countries can draw inspiration to draft such laws.”
According to him, this should be seen as the first step towards establishing a dedicated West African AI framework.
