First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Bernard Ahiafor is leading Ghana’s delegation to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Regional Conference taking place in Banjul, The Gambia.
Also included in the delegation are Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, Deputy Clerk in charge of Legislative Management Services Camillo Pwamang, Assistant Deputy Clerk in charge of Parliamentary Committees Evelyn Brefo-Boateng, Anita Ahiney Adjetey, Snr. Executive Officer and Victor Crabbe – Protocol Officer
CPA Conference
The 54th CPA Africa Annual Regional Conference which is themed Strengthening Democratic Governance and Resilience in Africa: Tackling Conflicts, Economic Shocks and Climate Risks on the opening day had in attendance the President of The Gambia Adama Barrow, CPA Secretary General Stephen Twigg, Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee and Speaker of Parliament of Malawi Catherine Gotani Hara.
The rest were Chairperson of CPA International Executive Committee Dr. Christopher Kalila from the Zambia and Speaker of the Gambian National Assembly who doubles as President of CPA Africa Region Fabakary Tombong Jatta.
In her address, the chairperson of the Speaker of Parliament of Malawi and Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee Catherine Gotani Hara charged legislators to move beyond just law making and work towards bettering the lives of their citizens.
“Laws mean nothing to the without food, jobs and shelter” She said.
Madam Hara further tasked leaders on the African continent to look within in finding solutions to the problems confronting their citizens instead of always running to the West and most recently the East.
President of The Gambia Adama Barrow in his address as special guest of honour lauded the Malawian speaker for her insights adding Africans have acquired enough education to be able to look within in finding solutions for problems facing the continent.
CPA Legal Status
General Secretary for CPA Stephen Twigg on his part informed the gathering the King of England has given his assent to a legislation that changes the status of CPA from a charity organisation to an international organisation with a legal status.
The change, formalized by the “Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and International Committee of the Red Cross (Status) Act 2025,” allows the CPA to operate with greater autonomy and privileges, moving beyond its previous status as a UK-registered charity.
The Act enables the UK government to confer privileges and immunities on the CPA, similar to those granted to other international organizations. Mr. Twigg assured his offie wil work closely with Ghana’s Shirly Ayorkor Botchway, the Secretary General for the Commonwealth Secretariat.
A visit to Ghana Town
Earlier, the delegation from Ghana led by the first deputy speaker has visited a Ghanaian community called “Ghana Town” located in Banjul where the residents were officially informed about the tragic death of 8 government officials and military personnel in the helicopter crash.
In the company of the delegation were Ghanaian troops stationed in The Gambia to help maintain the peace after the removal of former President Yahya Jammeh.
The resident who are fishermen from Ekumfi who migrated to the Gambia in the 60s used opportunity to air their concerns which includes what they term harsh treatments by the Gambian authorities.
Addressing the gathering youth leader of the community Alex Mensah disclosed children are unable to further their education after senior high through the public system because they are not regarded as citizens.
Mr. Mensah also decried the high duties imposed on salted fish popularly known as ‘Kako’ exported to Ghana by the authorities.
He consequently asked the first deputy speaker to engage with the Gambian authorities on their citizenship status.
The Akatsi South MP tasked the residents to register with the Ghanaian embassy to facilitate any further engagements with the Gambian authorities on their citizenship status.
Africa Exporting Raw Material and Importing Poverty
First deputy speaker of Parliament Bernard Ahiafor at the CPA conference chaired a session on the Role of African Legislatures in Boosting Industrialization through Value Addition and Local Manufacturing where he charged legislators in Commonwealth countries in Africa to work towards integration in trade and commerce.
According to the Akatsi South MP the only way Africa can lift its citizens from poverty is to add value to abundant raw materials it has been blessed with and not export them in a raw form.
Mr. Ahiafor further tasked his colleague legislators to work towards stopping exports of raw materials which inadvertently leads to importation of poverty.
Hello to the Gambian Crocodiles
The Ghanaian delegation also had an encounter with some amphibians when they visited the Crocodile Pool at Bakau, a suburb of Banjul.
The pond measuring 6 meters deep holds about 1000 crocodiles.
The experience however is no different from a visit to the Crocodile Pond in Paga in the Upper East Region of Ghana where visitors get to lay hands on the amphibians.
However, according to the tour guide Musa, unlike Ghana’s Paga where the crocodiles are fed with chicken, the Gambian ones are rather fed with fish. The reason is to ensure the crocodiles do not develop a taste for blood thereby putting visiting at risk.
CPA Recognizes Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu
The CPA-Africa Region on the final day of the conference recognized some individuals for their remarkable contributions to the progress of the organization. Notable among them was Ghana’s former MP for Suame and Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu was presented with a plaque.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu served as the Vice Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Executive Committee in 2023 before bowing out of Ghana’s legislature in 2025.
The plaque was received on behalf of the former leader by Assistant Deputy Clerk Evelyn Brefo-Boateng.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
