The Leader of Ghana’s Parliamentary Delegation to the Pan African Parliament, Hon. Joseph Osei-Owusu, has stressed the urgent need for the country’s Parliament to re-examine and refocus its goals for participating in the activities of international legislative associations.
According to him, the initial considerations for the country’s participation in these international bodies must give way to a well fashioned out plan of a mutually beneficial relationship which is based on new developments in the international geopolitical space in conformity to a nationally pre-determined interest.
In pursuance of this vision among others, the Leader of the delegation to the PAP who also doubles as the First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana, was tasked to lead a team to design a strategic plan for the country’s legislative arm including the need for a new focus for Parliament’s international relations.
“I have asked myself most often, what do I bring from the Pan African Parliament to the Parliament of Ghana. Indeed, I was the leader of a team set up by Mr. Speaker to draw a strategic plan for the Parliament starting with this Parliament.
“When it came to the question of our participation in the international bodies, I asked that we should ask ourselves, what do we want to bring from participating in these international issues; why is Ghana participating in this international relation issues; what does Ghana want from it; how are the members who represent Ghana in these international bodies orientated to focus on what it is that Ghana wants. Is there any benefit in it; is it just a question of representation? That has to be clearly defined,” he indicated.
The First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu made the remarks when the Executives of the Ghana Caucus of the African Parliamentary Press Network (APPN), called on him in his office at the Job 600 building.
The purpose of the visit was to formerly introduce the newly elected Executive body to his outfit and to fashion out a collaborative way of shining light on the activities of the Pan African Parliament to ensure that the continental legislative body is fully visible to the local people who are the real owners of Parliamentary information.
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) as the legislative arm of the African Union (AU), has assisted the AU to take many decisions on behalf of the continent and fashioned out model laws and treaties for the adoption of member countries in many sectors of national and international life. However, very little is known about the activities of the Pan-African Parliament among the local people on whose behalf these services are rendered.
Ghana’s Delegation to the PAP led by Hon. Joseph Osei-Owusu, includes Hon. Frank Annor Dompreh, Hon. Ophelia Hayford, Hon. Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, and Hon. Alhaji Collins Dauda as members.
The African Parliamentary Press Network (APPN) is a continental network of Parliamentary Reporters and information officers from various national Parliaments and Legislative Assemblies in Africa, brought together under the auspices of the Communication Directorate of the Pan-African Parliament, in partnership with Parliamentary Monitoring Civil Society Organizations including: PNAfrica of Ghana; Mzalendo Trust of Kenya; and the Human Rights Foundation of South Africa.
The Dean of the Ghana Caucus of the APPN, Clement Akoloh, who led the group made up of the Secretary, Jeorge Wilson Kingson; the General Organiser, Obaapa Naana Frimpomaa Lawson; and the Programmes Director of PNAfrica, Gilbert Boyefio, informed the Leader of Ghana’s Parliamentary delegation to the PAP about the core mandate of the network and sought his support and collaboration in their service and programme of activities.
“Our quest is to use our various platforms to provide the needed visibility to the Continental Parliament and other sub-regional Parliaments by disseminating information on their activities to the local people on whose behalf the Parliament exists,” he said.
Hon. Joseph Osei-Owusu on his part, welcomed the group and pledged to be a dependable partner to the APPN in the pursuit of their vision for God, the country and the continent.
“It is welcoming that you have over 21 of your members who have dedicated themselves to reporting on matters of international relations. I can assure you that you can find in me a partner in ensuring that what we do is reported upon. So that at least Ghanaians know that they are represented at the international level,” he assured.
He also informed the Executives of the Ghana Caucus of the APPN that, he will ensure the Parliamentary Delegation to the PAP always briefs the members of the Network before they leave and on their return from any international assignments even before the reports are laid before Parliament.
This, according to him, will keep the media and the people up to speed on the country’s participation in the Continental Parliament.
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
