Morocco’s Majority Coalition Nominates Sidi Mohamed Oueld Errachid to Succeed Miyara as House Councillors President.
In a statement released on October 11, 2022, the leadership of Morocco’s majority coalition announced that it has decided to nominate Sidi Mohamed Oueld Errachid from the Istiqlal Party to serve as the next president of the House of Councillors for the second half of the chamber’s legislative term.
The decision comes in accordance with Article 63 of the constitution, which stipulates that the president of the House of Councillors, bureau members, and chairs and offices of the standing committees shall be elected at the start of the legislative term and again at the midpoint of the chamber’s legislative mandate.
Meanwhile, King Mohammed VI will chair the opening of Parliament’s new legislative session, delivering a speech to both chambers in a traditional annual ceremony.
[post_date_unix] => 1728669993 [post_date] => October 11, 2024 [post_modified] => October 11, 2024 [post_author_url] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/author/parliamentnews360/ [post_author_name] => Clement Akoloh [post_author_email] => senaakoloh@gmail.com [post_comments_no] => 0 [post_comments_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/moroccan-coalition-nominates-sidi-mohamed-oueld-errachid-as-president-of-house-councillors/#respond [post_theme_settings] => Array ( ) ) [1896] => Array ( [post_id] => 1896 [post_type] => post [has_post_thumbnail] => 1 [post_thumbnail_id] => 1897 [post_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/2nd-round-of-pap-appn-media-capacity-building-workshop-held-for-southern-sector/ [post_title] => 2ND Round of PAP-APPN Media Capacity-Building Workshop Held for Southern Sector [post_title_attribute] => 2ND Round of PAP-APPN Media Capacity-Building Workshop Held for Southern Sector [post_excerpt] => The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has successfully hosted a three-day media capacity-building workshop for journalists from the Southern African region, held from May 16th to 18th, 2024. This event, organized in collaboration with the African Parliamentary Press Network (APPN), marks the second in a series of media training sessions aimed at enhancing the visibility of the PAP and its activities across the continent. [post_content] =>Cape Town, South Africa – The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has successfully hosted a three-day media capacity-building workshop for journalists from the Southern African region, held from May 16th to 18th, 2024. This event, organized in collaboration with the African Parliamentary Press Network (APPN), marks the second in a series of media training sessions aimed at enhancing the visibility of the PAP and its activities across the continent.
The workshop, which took place in Cape Town, South Africa, brought together media professionals from various Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, including South Africa, Malawi, Eswatini, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Lesotho, DR Congo, Mozambique, and Zambia. The initiative aligns with the broader objectives of the Pan-African Parliament, particularly as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.
The primary goal of the workshop was to sensitize journalists to the role and significance of the PAP within the African Union (AU) framework. As the legislative arm of the AU, the PAP relies heavily on the media to communicate its mission and achievements to the public. Recognizing the indispensable role of the press, the workshop aimed to strengthen the relationship between the PAP and media professionals, ensuring accurate and comprehensive reporting on its activities.
Co-facilitated by Gilbert Borketey Boyefio, Programmes Manager for Parliamentary Network Africa (PNAfrica), officials from the PAP, and other resource persons, the training sessions covered a range of essential topics. These included contextual reporting, ethical journalism, improving media relations, effective media engagement strategies, and the role of the media in enhancing the reporting of PAP activities.
Key officials of the Pan-African Parliament, including the President, H.E Chief Fortune Zephania Charumbira, and the Clerk, Ms. Lindiwe Khumalo, graced the opening ceremony of the workshop, underscoring the importance of this initiative. Their presence highlighted the PAP's commitment to fostering a robust relationship with the media to promote transparency and accountability.
Participants, primarily from the APPN, benefitted from the expert guidance provided by Ms. Janine Lazarus, a renowned media training expert, along with Mr. Jeffrey Onganga from the PAP's Media and Communications Unit. The training culminated in the development and adoption of a common strategy and implementation plan aimed at enhancing the visibility and reporting of PAP activities.
The APPN, a network of journalists and information officers reporting from African Parliaments and National Assemblies, has played a crucial role in improving the visibility of the PAP. Through initiatives such as PAP media briefings, country delegation press conferences, and weekly radio and TV discussion series, the APPN has brought the PAP closer to African citizens. This workshop sought to build on these successes and expand the network's influence to the Southern African region.
Looking ahead, the Pan-African Parliament plans to organize the next media training session for journalists from the West African region, to be held in Ghana. This continued effort underscores the PAP's dedication to ensuring that journalists across the continent are well-informed about its mandate and activities, promoting a more engaged and informed citizenry.
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
[post_date_unix] => 1716227520 [post_date] => May 20, 2024 [post_modified] => July 7, 2024 [post_author_url] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/author/parliamentnews360/ [post_author_name] => Clement Akoloh [post_author_email] => senaakoloh@gmail.com [post_comments_no] => 0 [post_comments_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/2nd-round-of-pap-appn-media-capacity-building-workshop-held-for-southern-sector/#respond [post_theme_settings] => Array ( ) ) [1863] => Array ( [post_id] => 1863 [post_type] => post [has_post_thumbnail] => 1 [post_thumbnail_id] => 1864 [post_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/pan-african-parliament-confident-in-raising-supplementary-budget-to-fulfill-mandate-in-2024/ [post_title] => Pan African Parliament Confident in Raising Supplementary Budget to Fulfill Mandate in 2024 [post_title_attribute] => Pan African Parliament Confident in Raising Supplementary Budget to Fulfill Mandate in 2024 [post_excerpt] => The Pan African Parliament (PAP) is optimistic about securing the necessary funds to carry out its legislative functions following an ongoing Extraordinary Session aimed at re-electing members for its Bureau. [post_content] =>The Pan African Parliament (PAP) is optimistic about securing the necessary funds to carry out its legislative functions following an ongoing Extraordinary Session aimed at re-electing members for its Bureau.
The session, scheduled from March 20th to 27th, 2024, is seen as a crucial step in addressing the financial challenges that have hampered the Parliament's operations.
The PAP has been grappling with financial constraints, leading to the postponement of its quarterly sessions in 2023. Despite the last session being held in May 2023, subsequent sessions have been delayed due to internal leadership issues within the Bureau.
Press Conference
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Extraordinary Session in Midrand, South Africa, Hon. Lucio Dos Santos, Acting President of PAP from Cape Verde, expressed confidence in the Bureau's ability to raise additional funds.
She stated that the successful elections would demonstrate to the African Union (AU) and other partners the Parliament's commitment, potentially leading to the allocation of a supplementary budget.
Complying with Executive Council decision
“We are complying with the decision of the Executive Council to hold the elections at the latest by the end of March. With this, we will gain a vote of trust from the AU and we will have an open door to request a supplementary budget,” she indicated.
Dos Santos emphasized the importance of securing additional funds, noting that the current budget was insufficient for the ongoing session. She highlighted the Bureau's intention to request a supplementary budget from the AU to support its activities.
She observed, “The budget that we are using for this session is not about our operating budget but given that this is an emerging situation, we had to make the necessary adjustments to the budget so that we could request a supplementary budget from the African Union at a later stage.
The need for additional funds for PAP to run
“We believe that the Ambassadors and ministers of Foreign Affairs are indeed aware of the responsibilities of the Pan-African Parliament and we believe that we are going to get a supplementary budget for 2024 because it doesn’t make sense that this Parliament works without a budget and for committees to implement their programmed activities, they need the budget.
“This is what takes Parliament to the people and the diaspora. So, we are confident that we are going to get a supplementary budget for 2024. But we will also seek the authorization of the AU to mobilize more partnerships to boost the budget for active committee activities and programme budget.”
Vacant positions
The vacant positions of President, First Vice President, and Fourth Vice President of the Bureau, resulting from elections and unconstitutional changes of government in some AU Member States, will be filled under guidelines set by the AU Executive Council.
The Southern Caucus, Northern Caucus, and Central Caucus are expected to fill these positions, respectively, in line with the principle of rotation.
The PAP's efforts to address its financial challenges and ensure the continuity of its operations reflect its commitment to promoting African unity and development.
The successful outcome of the Extraordinary Session and the securing of a supplementary budget will be crucial for the Parliament to fulfill its mandate effectively.
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
[post_date_unix] => 1711373307 [post_date] => March 25, 2024 [post_modified] => March 25, 2024 [post_author_url] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/author/parliamentnews360/ [post_author_name] => Clement Akoloh [post_author_email] => senaakoloh@gmail.com [post_comments_no] => 0 [post_comments_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/pan-african-parliament-confident-in-raising-supplementary-budget-to-fulfill-mandate-in-2024/#respond [post_theme_settings] => Array ( ) ) [1838] => Array ( [post_id] => 1838 [post_type] => post [has_post_thumbnail] => 1 [post_thumbnail_id] => 1839 [post_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/inauguration-of-27th-commonwealth-speakers-and-presiding-officers-conference-cspoc-uganda/ [post_title] => Inauguration of 27th Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference (CSPOC)- Uganda [post_title_attribute] => Inauguration of 27th Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference (CSPOC)- Uganda [post_excerpt] => The inauguration of the 27th Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference (CSPOC) has marked a momentous occasion as it has been unveiled by His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the esteemed President of Uganda. The grand opening ceremony has served as a platform for leaders, dignitaries, and representatives from across the Commonwealth to converge and engage in meaningful discussions. [post_content] =>The inauguration of the 27th Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference (CSPOC) has marked a momentous occasion as it has been unveiled by His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the esteemed President of Uganda. The grand opening ceremony has served as a platform for leaders, dignitaries, and representatives from across the Commonwealth to converge and engage in meaningful discussions.
The Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Anita Among has played a pivotal role in extending a warm welcome to her counterparts and other distinguished leaders present at the conference. Among other leaders is the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament and technical staff from Parliament.
The gathering is not only celebrating the rich diversity within the Commonwealth but also fostering a spirit of collaboration and mutual understanding.
H.E Yoweri Museveni's involvement in inaugurating the conference has underscored the significance of the event on the global stage. His presence has not only added prestige but also highlighted Uganda's commitment to promoting dialogue and cooperation among Commonwealth nations.
The Speaker's welcoming address has set the tone for the conference, emphasizing the shared values and goals that bind Commonwealth countries together. The exchange of ideas and experiences during the conference promised to strengthen the ties between the participating nations, fostering a sense of unity and solidarity.
As leaders engage in discussions over the course of the conference, it is evident that the 27th CSPOC is aimed to address pressing issues facing member nations. The exchange of insights, best practices, and collaborative strategies shall play a crucial role in shaping the future direction of the Commonwealth.
The official opening ceremony, graced by the President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E Museveni and led by the Speaker of Parliament, has not only showcased Uganda's hospitality but also emphasized the nation's dedication to diplomatic initiatives. The event is a testament to the Commonwealth's enduring commitment to democratic values, human rights, and socio-economic development.
In conclusion, the official opening of the 27th Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers Conference is a moment of significance, marked by the presence of President Museveni and the warm welcome extended by the Speaker of Parliament. The conference stands as a beacon of unity, providing a platform for leaders to collaborate, exchange ideas, and collectively address the challenges and opportunities facing the Commonwealth in the 21st century.
[post_date_unix] => 1704450737 [post_date] => January 5, 2024 [post_modified] => January 5, 2024 [post_author_url] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/author/parliamentnews360/ [post_author_name] => Clement Akoloh [post_author_email] => senaakoloh@gmail.com [post_comments_no] => 0 [post_comments_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/inauguration-of-27th-commonwealth-speakers-and-presiding-officers-conference-cspoc-uganda/#respond [post_theme_settings] => Array ( ) ) [1738] => Array ( [post_id] => 1738 [post_type] => post [has_post_thumbnail] => 1 [post_thumbnail_id] => 1739 [post_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/over-600-delegates-across-the-commonwealth-fraternity-to-attend-the-66th-cpc-conference-in-ghana/ [post_title] => Over 600 Delegates across the Commonwealth Fraternity to attend the 66th CPC Conference in Ghana [post_title_attribute] => Over 600 Delegates across the Commonwealth Fraternity to attend the 66th CPC Conference in Ghana [post_excerpt] => Under the distinguished patronage of the Rt Hon Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Parliament of Ghana will host the 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference which will be held from 30th September to 6th October 2023 at the Accra International Conference under the theme: “The Commonwealth Charter 10 years on: Values and Principles for Parliaments to Uphold." [post_content] =>Under the distinguished patronage of the Rt Hon Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Parliament of Ghana will host the 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference which will be held from 30th September to 6th October 2023 at the Accra International Conference under the theme: “The Commonwealth Charter 10 years on: Values and Principles for Parliaments to Uphold."
The Rt. Hon. Speaker who also doubles as the President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the President of the Ghana Branch of the Association will preside over the General Assembly on Thursday, 5th October, 2023, and also chair the Elections Committee of the Association. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Association and will participate in the deliberations at the Meeting of the Executive Committee.
The 7-day Conference aimed at fostering dialogue and cooperation among member countries to address pressing global challenges within the context of Commonwealth Values will be attended by Speakers and Presiding Officers, Parliamentarians, Clerks-to-Parliaments, Parliamentary Staff, and key Stakeholders in the parliamentary governance sector.
Addressing a Press Conference in Parliament on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, to announce the upcoming international event to be hosted by the Parliament of Ghana on behalf of the Rt. Hon. Speaker, the Clerk to Ghana’s Parliament, Mr. Cyril Kwabena Oteng Nsiah, who doubles as the Ghana Branch Secretary of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, said the conference will emphasize the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in addressing identified challenges and highlight the role of parliaments in shaping policies that benefit their citizens.
According to him, the Parliament of Ghana expects to host about six hundred (600) delegates, observers, and accompanying officials from 56 National Branches (National Legislatures) and 111 Sub-National Branches (State/Provincial Legislatures) across the nine (9) geographic regions of the Commonwealth.
He also noted that the 66th CPC will be held alongside other Conferences, Meetings, and Workshops at the Accra International Conference Centre, including the 66th CPA General Assembly; Meetings of the CPA Executive Committee; 39th CPA Small Branches Conference; Meetings of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP); Meeting of Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) networks; 57th Meeting of the Society of Clerks at the Table (SoCATT); and Presentation of the 2023 Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year awards.
This year’s conference will commence officially with an opening ceremony on Wednesday, 4th October, 2023 under the distinguished patronage of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana and Vice-Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the Keynote Speaker.
The opening ceremony will be followed by workshops to discuss various topics relating to security, human rights, environment, economy, gender, and other cross-cutting issues. The Hon. Minister of National Security is expected to lead discussions at the Host nation’s workshop which will be organized by Ghana to deliberate on the topic: Combating the threat of terrorism to Statehood: the Role of Parliament.
Prior to the official opening of the Conference, there will be an Inaugural Lecture in memory of Hon. Emilia Monjowa Lifaka on Monday, 2nd October, 2023 from 19:00 to 20:00 GMT at the Accra International Conference Centre, Ghana.
Hon. Monjowa Lifaka is a former Deputy Speaker of Cameroon who was a passionate champion of the CPA and served as CPA Chairperson from November, 2017 until her demise in April, 2021. The Lecture which is to pay tribute to her is opened to the general public. A paper will be presented by Ms. Betty Abeng, Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth Education Trust, with Dr. Leslie Casely-Hayford, a Ghana-based international education development expert as the discussant.
Background Information
In September 2019, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), at its 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) held in Kampala, Uganda adopted a request from Ghana among those from other commonwealth nations to host the 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), was founded in 1911 as the Empire Parliamentary Association, which metamorphosed into the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in 1948.
The Association, which had five (5) branches at its inception, currently has one hundred and eighty-one (180) national and sub-branches across the nine (9) regions of the Commonwealth. The Association has a number of organs including Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians, the CPA Small Branches Network, the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities, and the Commonwealth Youth Parliament.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC), an annual conference of CPA, was first held in the United Kingdom in 1948. The Conference was held bi-annually until 1961 when it became an annual event, organized on a rotational basis in all regions of the Commonwealth across the world.
The CPA Africa Region has hosted the highest number of Conferences. The 66th CPC which will be held in Accra, Ghana will be the 17th time the CPA Africa Region is hosting the Conference.
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
[post_date_unix] => 1695764502 [post_date] => September 26, 2023 [post_modified] => September 26, 2023 [post_author_url] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/author/parliamentnews360/ [post_author_name] => Clement Akoloh [post_author_email] => senaakoloh@gmail.com [post_comments_no] => 0 [post_comments_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/over-600-delegates-across-the-commonwealth-fraternity-to-attend-the-66th-cpc-conference-in-ghana/#respond [post_theme_settings] => Array ( ) ) [1723] => Array ( [post_id] => 1723 [post_type] => post [has_post_thumbnail] => 1 [post_thumbnail_id] => 1724 [post_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/pap-mps-need-to-help-ratify-free-movement-of-people-protocol-to-enhance-afcfta-implementation-hon-alhagie-mbow/ [post_title] => PAP MPs Need to Help Ratify Free Movement of People Protocol to Enhance AfCFTA Implementation – Hon Alhagie Mbow [post_title_attribute] => PAP MPs Need to Help Ratify Free Movement of People Protocol to Enhance AfCFTA Implementation – Hon Alhagie Mbow [post_excerpt] => The Chairperson of the Western African Caucus of the Pan-African Parliament and Senator in the Gambia Parliament, Hon. Alhagie Mbow, has urged his colleague Members of the Pan-African Parliament to ensure the ratification of the Protocol on Free and Safe Movement of People, and Goods and services across the continent in their various countries to justify their role as representatives of the African people. [post_content] =>The Chairperson of the Western African Caucus of the Pan-African Parliament and Senator in the Gambia Parliament, Hon. Alhagie Mbow, has urged his colleague Members of the Pan-African Parliament to ensure the ratification of the Protocol on Free and Safe Movement of People, and Goods and services across the continent in their various countries to justify their role as representatives of the African people.
According to him, this falls in line with the African Union Theme for 2023, “Accelerating the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which has also been adopted as the headline theme for the ongoing Second Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament which is being held from May 15 to June 2, 2023, in Midrand, South Africa.
“If you look at the protocol to the Treaty establishing the African Community relative to the Free Movement of Persons and the right of residence under the right of establishment, you would realize that actually 32 countries have signed but we have only 4 that have actually ratified it.
“You know ratification is the part that the Members of Parliament would have to do before it becomes effective. So, I think the Members of PAP have a crucial role to play, especially when we are talking about the AFCTA where we need to have people who are free to move from one country to the other and where they can also have the right to reside,” he indicated.
The Caucus Chair made the call on the APPN-PAP Virtual Media Brief platform where members of the African Parliamentary Press Network (APPN) engaged him in a discussion on some of the activities in the ongoing PAP session.
Hon. Alhagie Mbow emphasized the need to also ensure safe movement and not only a free movement of people from one African country to the other. Because according to him, “If you look at the migration pattern that is ongoing on the continent, particularly in Western Sahara and West Africa itself, we are seeing something which is really undesirable.”
Another area that he indicated needed to be worked on is silencing the guns. “Last year and the year before, you’ve seen some things coming up in Western Africa dealing with coup D’états which is something we don’t want to see on the continent. And again, we see what is happening in Eastern Africa in Sudan. Those things are things that are not desirable on the continent at this point in time.”
“I think we are trying to turn the corner where we can work together as Africans, where we create our own market, where we move products and services from one country to the other, where we trade among ourselves which we think is for the betterment of the African population,” he indicated in the media briefing.
The PAP Virtual Media Brief which is streamed live to the world on the internet, is an initiative of the APPN Secretariat hosted in Accra, Ghana by the Parliamentary Network Africa (PNAfrica).
The objective of the Daily Virtual Briefing exercise is to: Bring the larger membership of the APPN up to speed on the various subject matter areas of the ongoing Session of the Continental Parliament to facilitate accurate reportage; Provide a platform for the officials of PAP to give first-hand information to the Parliamentary journalist across the continent and the general public about their work at PAP, and clarify thorny issues that may have arisen during plenary discussions; and Create a rapport and a working relationship between the actors at the Continental Parliament and the Parliamentary journalist under the umbrella of the APPN to deepen their publicity agenda towards the Pan African Parliament.
The APPN is a network of Parliamentary journalists and Communication Officers from the various Parliaments and National Assemblies across the continent who are dedicated to leading advocacy and the dissemination of Parliamentary information to the ordinary people on the continent and beyond. The network currently has a presence in 28 African countries.
Source:Clement Akoloh||parlimentnews360.com
[post_date_unix] => 1684937859 [post_date] => May 24, 2023 [post_modified] => May 24, 2023 [post_author_url] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/author/parliamentnews360/ [post_author_name] => Clement Akoloh [post_author_email] => senaakoloh@gmail.com [post_comments_no] => 0 [post_comments_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/pap-mps-need-to-help-ratify-free-movement-of-people-protocol-to-enhance-afcfta-implementation-hon-alhagie-mbow/#respond [post_theme_settings] => Array ( ) ) [1709] => Array ( [post_id] => 1709 [post_type] => post [has_post_thumbnail] => 1 [post_thumbnail_id] => 1710 [post_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/unconstitutional-changes-in-govt-among-topical-issues-discussed-at-1st-ordinary-session-ghanas-pap-delegation/ [post_title] => Unconstitutional Changes in Govt among Topical Issues Discussed at 1st Ordinary Session – Ghana’s PAP Delegation [post_title_attribute] => Unconstitutional Changes in Govt among Topical Issues Discussed at 1st Ordinary Session – Ghana’s PAP Delegation [post_excerpt] => Peace and security, integration of the Continent, unconstitutional changes of government and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) were the issues that featured prominently on the Agenda for the First Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan African Parliament. [post_content] =>Peace and security, integration of the Continent, unconstitutional changes of government and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) were the issues that featured prominently on the Agenda for the First Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan African Parliament.
This is according to a Report of the Representatives from the Parliament of Ghana to the Pan-African Parliament on the Ordinary Session held from Monday, October 24th to Friday, November 11th 2022, in Midrand, South Africa under the theme, “Building Resilience in Nutrition on the African Continent: Accelerate the Human Capital, Social and Economic Development”.
The Report which was signed by the Head of the Delegation to the PAP, Hon. Joseph Osei Owusu and the scheduled Officer - Acting Deputy Clerk, Mr. Eric Owusu, was presented at plenary to the Parliament of Ghana just before it left for recess at the end of March, 2023.
It indicated that the House was unanimous that the growth of the continent would depend on the level of peace and security environment available and therefore called on the African Union to work towards ending the several ongoing conflicts in Africa.
“The House also acknowledged that, Africa could progress only when elements of true democracy are adhered to by the people of Africa. The House therefore called on countries that had not ratified the Charter on Democratic Elections and Governance to do so.
“The ratification of the Charter and adherence to the principles expressed by the Charter would be expected to curtail the unconstitutional changes of government in Africa,” the report said.
It reported on the 18 resolutions which were adopted by the House which were enumerated as the following: 1. Congratulations to the Federal Republic of Ethiopia and Tigray People’s Liberation Front on the signing of the Peace Agreement; 2. Solidarity and support to the Government and the People of the Republic of Mozambique in resolving the conflict; 3. Support for the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline Project; 4. Lifting of unilateral economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwean Government by the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union.
The others include: 5. Immediate end to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); 6. Ratification and implementation of the Additional Protocol to the African Charter on Human And Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol); 7. Advancement of democratic governance through the implementation of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) and enhanced citizen engagement; 8. Effective operations of the African Continental Free Trade Area; 9. Formulation of model law on food and nutrition security in Africa; and 10. Formulation of model law on policing for Africa.
The rest of the resolutions adopted by the PAP are: 11. Elimination of harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks; 12. Promotion of ratification of the Protocol on Persons with Disability and the Protocol on Older Persons; 13. Formulation of model law on labour migration in Africa; 14. Formulation of model law on Gender Parity in Africa; 15. Promotion of African Union Ten-Year Action Plan to Eradicate Child Labour, Forced Labour, Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery (2020-2030); 16. Formulation of model law on statelessness; 17. Formulation of model law on cooperatives in Africa; and 18. Formulation of model law on factoring in Africa.
The Members of Ghana’s Parliamentary Delegation to the Pan-African Parliament include: Hon. Joseph Osei Owusu, First Deputy Speaker and Leader of the Delegation; Hon. Frank Annor Dompreh, Majority Chief Whip; Hon. Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, Minority Chief Whip; Hon. Collins Dauda, Member; and Hon. Ophelia Mensah, Member.
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
[post_date_unix] => 1682182556 [post_date] => April 22, 2023 [post_modified] => April 22, 2023 [post_author_url] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/author/parliamentnews360/ [post_author_name] => Clement Akoloh [post_author_email] => senaakoloh@gmail.com [post_comments_no] => 0 [post_comments_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/unconstitutional-changes-in-govt-among-topical-issues-discussed-at-1st-ordinary-session-ghanas-pap-delegation/#respond [post_theme_settings] => Array ( ) ) [1703] => Array ( [post_id] => 1703 [post_type] => post [has_post_thumbnail] => 1 [post_thumbnail_id] => 1704 [post_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/pap-president-charges-youth-to-be-driving-force-for-afcfta-implementation/ [post_title] => PAP President Charges Youth to be Driving Force for AfCFTA Implementation [post_title_attribute] => PAP President Charges Youth to be Driving Force for AfCFTA Implementation [post_excerpt] => The President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has encouraged the youth to be the driving force behind the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). H.E. Chief Fortune Z. Charumbira called on young people to tap into opportunities offered by intra-African trade, and play a leading role in accelerating Africa’s industrialisation and economic transformation. [post_content] =>The President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) has encouraged the youth to be the driving force behind the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). H.E. Chief Fortune Z. Charumbira called on young people to tap into opportunities offered by intra-African trade, and play a leading role in accelerating Africa’s industrialisation and economic transformation.
The President of the Continental Parliament was addressing students gathered at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) on the occasion of the 2023 African Union (AU) Model Summit under the theme of the Year for 2023, “Acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area Implementation.”
Convened by the African Union Southern Africa Regional Office (AU-SARO), the AU Model Summit is essentially a simulation exercise of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government Proceedings. As a student-based activity, it involves students being assigned to the African Union Member States in groups of five representing different delegations of the 55 Member States.
The objective of the Model Summit is to sensitise the citizenry, especially African youth on the continental integration policies, programs, and what they mean to the ordinary citizenry. The platform is further intended to familiarise participants on the operations and procedures of the AU policy organs and their decision-making processes.
H.E. Chief Charumbira said that young people must make their voice heard to ensure that the implementation process of the AfCFTA is responsive to their needs, as the future of the African continent. The leader of Africa’s Parliament believes that harnessing the potential of the landmark continental agreement will help the youth overcome difficulties in accessing formal employment and decent jobs.
The President further pledged the PAP’s commitment to ensuring that the youth fully play their role and reap the benefits of what he described as one of the most important African projects to date.
“I am pleased to say that the PAP can and should play an instrumental role in driving youth inclusion and participation in continental policies and programmes in general and in the implementation of the AfCFTA in particular. One of the primary objectives of the PAP as enunciated in Rule 4 of the PAP Rules of Procedure is to facilitate the effective implementation of the policies and objectives of the African Union. The PAP is indeed intended as a platform for African citizens, especially the youth to make contributions to decision-making on the problems and challenges facing the continent,” said H.E. Chief Charumbira.
He added: “You must insist that you are part of the action, do not be bystanders. As your Parliament, we exist to ensure that your concerns are considered by the decision-making structures of our Union. Africa has the world's youngest population, with over 400 million young people aged 15 to 35 years. To galvanise Africa's accelerated economic growth agenda, the youth must be a prime anchor of the AfCFTA. In that regard, we must include the youth in all facets of the AfCFTA implementation.”
H.E. Chief Charumbira identified the production capability of the African continent as an area requiring the youth’s intervention. The leader of the PAP called for the ingenuity, proactiveness and passion of young people to reduce Africa’s dependency on raw material exports and imports, a sine qua non for the successful implementation of the AfCFTA.
“Africa imports billions of dollars’ worth of products that can be produced locally utilising the continent’s abundant resources. As you continue your studies, you must focus on how to create opportunities for production, and how to stimulate demand among African countries in order to unlock the potential of intra-trade on the continent. The AfCFTA is aiming to address this challenge. If we get it right, we will lift millions of people out of poverty especially by empowering youth to change the continent’s business environment.”
Finally, the leader of Africa’s premier parliamentary forum said that young people must dare to take charge now as he called on governments to deliberately include youths in policy and decision-making platforms, integrating their needs into trade policies, enhancing their participation in cross-border trade.
“You are not the leaders of tomorrow; you are leaders in training. You must take the bull by the horns and insist on being part of the action today. In this regard, I applaud the training that the AU-SARO is providing in collaboration with tertiary institutions such as UJ , and I hope you will use it in your lifetime for the greater good of the citizens of our respective countries and the peoples of Africa. This platform is critically important not only in raising awareness among our youths on the operations, working modalities, policies and programmes of the AU and its Organs, but also in inspiring our youth to possibly pursue a career path as policy makers and future leaders," H.E. Chief Charumbira concluded.
[post_date_unix] => 1682024582 [post_date] => April 20, 2023 [post_modified] => April 20, 2023 [post_author_url] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/author/parliamentnews360/ [post_author_name] => Clement Akoloh [post_author_email] => senaakoloh@gmail.com [post_comments_no] => 0 [post_comments_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/pap-president-charges-youth-to-be-driving-force-for-afcfta-implementation/#respond [post_theme_settings] => Array ( ) ) [1698] => Array ( [post_id] => 1698 [post_type] => post [has_post_thumbnail] => 1 [post_thumbnail_id] => 1699 [post_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/pap-committees-work-must-be-based-on-the-smart-principle-president-charumbira/ [post_title] => PAP Committees Work must be based on the “SMART Principle” – President Charumbira [post_title_attribute] => PAP Committees Work must be based on the “SMART Principle” – President Charumbira [post_excerpt] => The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) President H.E Chief Fortune Charumbira has urged the PAP Committees, Regional Caucuses, Women and Youth Caucuses to adopt “SMART Principle” in developing Committee Workplans. [post_content] =>The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) President H.E Chief Fortune Charumbira has urged the PAP Committees, Regional Caucuses, Women and Youth Caucuses to adopt “SMART Principle” in developing Committee Workplans.
He was speaking at the currently ongoing sitting of the Permanent Committees of the sixth Parliament of the PAP in Midrand, South Africa, where Committees, Women and Youth Caucuses Chairpersons made Presentations on their Workplans and expected results of Committee sittings.
The sitting is being held under the African Union Theme of the Year for 2023, “The Year of AFCFTA: Accelerating the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area”.
Developed by George Doran, Arthur Miller and James Cunningham in their 1981 article aimed at ways of writing management goals and objectives, the acronym SMART means “Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-based”
“Our Committees, Youth and Women need to come up with specific goals and adopt a more effective planning process if we are to achieve our objectives,” said H.E Chief Charumbira while commenting and making his Presentation on “the mandate of the Permanent Committees and expected output from African legislators”.
“While devising plans, our teams need to focus on defining the evidence which will prove that you are making progress and reevaluate when necessary. In all that you do, you also need to make sure that you can reasonably accomplish your goals within a certain time frame.
“We don’t need a situation where we just implement activities for the sake of pushing time. Your goals should align with your values and long-term objectives. As continental legislators we need to set a realistic ambitious end-date for task prioritisation and motivation,” said H.E Chief Charumbira emphasising that Africa counts on the work of the PAP Committees.
H.E Chief Charumbira also challenged the Committees to work towards the harmonization or coordination of the laws in the AU Member States.
“As our committees, you should examine, discuss or express an opinion on any matter, either on its own initiative or at the request of the Assembly or other policy organs and make any recommendations it may deem fit relating to, inter alia, matters pertaining to the respect of human rights, the consolidation of democratic institutions and the culture of democracy, as well as the promotion of good governance and the rule of law.
“Always debate, express an opinion and make actionable recommendations on issues relevant to the people of Africa such as Poverty and Unemployment, Illicit Financial Flows, Climate Change, Food Security & Nutrition, Unconstitutional Changes of Government, Corruption, Terrorism and Unilateral sanctions impeding development in African countries,” he added.
The President further accentuated that the Committees must facilitate the effective implementation of the policies and objectives of the OAU/AEC, Agenda 2063, African Continental Free Trade Area, AU Shared Values, Flagship Projects: Inga Dam Project, Single African Air Transport Market and Facilitate attainment of AU Theme of the Year: “The Year of AFCTFTA: Accelerating the AFCFTA Implementation”.
[post_date_unix] => 1678215660 [post_date] => March 7, 2023 [post_modified] => April 12, 2023 [post_author_url] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/author/parliamentnews360/ [post_author_name] => Clement Akoloh [post_author_email] => senaakoloh@gmail.com [post_comments_no] => 0 [post_comments_link] => https://parliamentnews360.com/index.php/pap-committees-work-must-be-based-on-the-smart-principle-president-charumbira/#respond [post_theme_settings] => Array ( ) ) ) [loop_pagination] => Array ( [pagenavi_options] => Array ( [pages_text] => Page %CURRENT_PAGE% of %TOTAL_PAGES% [current_text] => %PAGE_NUMBER% [page_text] => %PAGE_NUMBER% [first_text] => 1 [last_text] => %TOTAL_PAGES% [next_text] => [prev_text] => [dotright_text] => ... [dotleft_text] => ... [num_pages] => 3 [always_show] => 1 ) [paged] => 1 [max_page] => 12 [start_page] => 1 [end_page] => 3 [pages_to_show] => 3 [previous_posts_link] => [next_posts_link] => ) [category_id] => 49 )
