The Economic Community of West Africa States, ECOWAS, has expressed worries over the death of its citizens in the Mediterranean Sea caused by irregular migration by its citizens.

The Head of Guinea Delegation of ECOWAS Parliament and Co-Chair of the Joint Committee,  Alpha Souleymane Bah Fischer disclosed this in Guinea Conakry at the  Opening Session of the Delocalized Meeting of the Joint Committee on Communications and Information Technology, Education , Science and Technology, Labour , Employment , Youth, Sports and Culture ,

Alpha Souleymane Bah said the community would deal with the challenge.

He said,” the important of this meeting cannot be overemphasized as it will address the challenges of unemployment facing our region.”

“This is the reason why some of them are fleeing to the west”

“Some of our citizens have died in the Mediterranean Sea due to irregular migration.”

“This meeting will deal with job creation and training of our youth so that they can overcome the temptation of being trapped in the Mediterranean Sea,” he said.

Alpha Souleymane Bah said the meeting will also equip the Parliamentary members to play a major role in job creation in the region.

“This meeting will advocate and promote skills acquisition of youths to enable them stay in their countries rather than venture into illegal migration,” he said.

He commended UNIDO for its collaboration efforts for the development of the region.

The Speaker, National Assembly of Guinea, CLaude Kory Kondiano, said the meeting was apt as the issue of unemployment has dealt a blow to the region.

He said the nation of Guinea was happy that the meeting is holding in the country adding that it will join in the implementation of decisions reached in the meeting.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Guinean Minister of Cooperation , Dr. Diene Keita, said the high rate of unemployment is a major concern in the region while calling on the  ECOWAS lawmakers to tackle menace through their deliberations.

The cause of the irregular migration of ECOWAS citizens to foreign countries has been attributed to the high rate of unemployment in the region.

In the last few years the community has recorded numerous deaths of its citizens in the Mediterranean Sea looking for greener pastures abroad.(VON)