Pan-African Parliament Commences 3rd Ordinary Session Of 6th Parliament With Call For Unity
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
The Pan-African Parliament, PAP, has commenced its third ordinary session of the sixth parliament, with a call on members of the parliament to unite and speak with one voice.
The President of the parliament, Chief Fortune Charumbira, who made the call while presiding over the session holding in Midrand, South Africa, said, PAP, as an institution, suffers from collateral damage every time there is a conflict within and among its members and implored them to work together to ensure that such conflicts are a thing of the past and to rebrand and repair the image of the Pan-African Parliament.
The Pan-African Parliament’s mandate and functions as espoused in Article 3 of the PAP Protocol, include among other things, facilitating effective implementation of the policies and objectives of the OAU/AEC and that of the African Union; promoting the principles of human rights and democracy in Africa; encourage good governance, transparency and accountability in Member States; as well as familiarize the peoples of Africa with the objectives and policies aimed at integrating the African Continent within the framework of the establishment of the African Union.
It is against this backdrop that the President of PAP appealed to members to play the role of apostolic ambassadors of PAP to ensure that they refocus the institution on achieving its mandate, reconnect with sister AU Organs, other stakeholders, and the citizens of Africa, and, in so doing, rebrand and repair the soiled image of the Pan African Parliament.
The Chief Executive Officer, African Peer Review Mechanism, APRM Continental Secretariat, Amb. Marie-Antoinette Quatre said the Pan-African Parliament has a critical role to play in promoting and advancing democracy and good governance in Africa, as a requirement to achieving development for the well-being and the prosperity of the people.
According to Quatre, various regional bodies are rooted in the same soil; grounded in the same ideals of a Continent entrenched in the African Shared values of democracy, good governance, peace, security, and stability which is why they have remained committed to keeping the momentum to always be on the right side of history.
The session is hinged on the African Union’s theme for the year 2024: “Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient Education Systems For Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality, and Relevant Learning in Africa.”
