CPA NEWS COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARIANS MEET IN SIERRA LEONE TO DISCUSS BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE SOCIETY AT THE 52ND CPA AFRICA REGIONAL CONFERENCE Commonwealth Parliamentarians from across Africa have met in Freetown, Sierra Leone from 1 to 9 June 2022 to attend the 52nd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Regional Conference on the theme of ‘The role of African Parliaments in building an inclusive society to counter growing insecurity in Africa’, with a view to explore and share ideas and perspectives on how to strengthen democracy in Africa. At the official opening ceremony, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Julius Maada Wonie Bio gave the keynote address and said to Parliamentarians: “I must add that the strengths of our democracies in the Commonwealth have endured, thanks to the role of Parliaments. You debate, modify, adopt and pass legislation on policies, positions and visions. You are tasked with voicing diverse views and approving the aspirations of citizens. That is no mean task.” The CPA Africa Region President (2022) and the Speaker of the Parliament of Sierra Leone, Rt Hon. Dr Abass Chernor Bundu MP also welcomed delegates to the Regional Conference which brought together almost 300 delegates from Branches across the CPA Africa Region - from both national and sub-national Parliaments. The CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg attended the Regional Conference to reiterate the CPA’s commitment to the CPA Africa Region and the importance of securing a new legal status for the CPA as an international inter-parliamentary organisation. During the Regional Conference, the Speaker of the Parliament of Malawi, Rt Hon. Catherine Gotani Hara was elected as the Chairperson of the CPA Africa Region Executive Committee in succession to the Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya, Rt Hon. Justin Muturi. The Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Africa Region was represented by Hon. Kayanga Baroda MP (Uganda) who called for greater focus on gender inclusion and women’s participation in political, social, economic and development processes in the Africa Region. The CWP Africa Region also convened for a Regional Steering Committee meeting and a gender-sensitisation workshop. The CWP Business Meeting also saw the election of the Speaker of Zambia, Hon. Ms. Nelly Mutti to the position of CWP Africa Vice-Chairperson. The African Region of the Society of Clerks-at-the-Table (SoCATT) in Commonwealth Parliaments also held its Annual General Meeting in the margins of the Regional Conference. The CPA Africa Region is one of nine CPA Regions across the Commonwealth, and it comprises 63 national and subnational Legislatures. The CPA Africa Regional Secretariat is based in the Parliament of Tanzania.
CPA AFRICA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HELD IN GHANA The Vice-President of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia urged African Parliaments to find new ways of doing business that focus on a collective approach as he gave the keynote address at the opening of the 82nd CPA Africa Region Executive Committee meeting in Accra on 8 March 2022. The meeting is held twice a year to plan the regional activities of the CPA and to discuss issues of concern to Members. The First Deputy Speaker of the Ghana Parliament, Hon. Joe Osei-Owusu, representing the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Alban Bagbin, called on political parties to put in place measures to increase the numbers of women in Parliament. The CPA Africa Region President and the Speaker of the Parliament of Sierra Leone, Hon. Dr Abass Bundu said the CPA would continue to work to promote parliamentary democracy in member countries and help to sustain the democratic gains that have been made. The CPA Africa Region, comprising of 63 national and sub-national Legislatures, provides Parliamentarians with the opportunity to discuss issues and build consensus on areas of common interest to deepen parliamentary democracy, good governance and promote human development.
For the latest CPA and Commonwealth news please visit www.cpahq.org or follow the CPA on social media Twitter @CPA_Secretariat | Facebook.com/CPAHQ | LinkedIn | Instagram @cpa_secretariat 110 | The Parliamentarian | 2022: Issue Two | 100 years of publishing