Madam Catharine Gotani, Speaker of the Parliament of Malawi and Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Africa Region, has called for a robust constitution for the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL).
She noted that a robust and inclusive constitution for the CoSPAL would be the foundation upon which their shared vision for the future would rest.
CoSPAL is the first permanent platform that seeks to mobilise and unite Speakers and Presidents of legislatures across the continent to support the agenda for Africa’s growth and sustainable development.
Madam Gotani made the call in a video message delivered at the Second General Assembly of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL) in Accra.
CoSPAL is the first permanent platform that seeks to mobilise and unite Speakers and Presidents of legislatures across the continent to support the agenda for Africa’s growth and sustainable development.
One of the core tasks of the two-day Conference in Accra is to consider and adopt the Draft Constitution submitted by the Interim Technical Working Group (ITWG), which was assigned that responsibility at the first General Assembly held in Abuja, Nigeria in May 2022.
She noted that the Accra Conference serves as a vital platform for deliberation, collaboration, and the pursuit of joint solutions to the continent’s shared challenges.
Quoting the timeless words of former South African President Nelson Mandela, Madam Gotani said, “It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it”.
Madam Gotani said indeed, Africa’s destiny lies in the hands of Africans and that their parliaments must rise to the challenge of shaping that destiny.
“We stand united in our responsibility to create a brighter future for generations to come,” she said.
She noted that Africa was at a time of profound transformation and that with each step forward, Africans recognised the crucial role that their parliaments play in ensuring that the continent’s development agenda was people-centred, sustainable, and inclusive.
“Therefore, this forum stands as a beacon of hope for driving collective action, empowering our legislature to become agents of progress, stability, and prosperity across the continent.”
Madam Gotani said as they embark on the Accra Conference, their discussions hold a key to shaping the future; saying “We have before us an opportunity to strengthen the various structures, process, and funding mechanisms that will ensure that our organization thrives”.
Adding that these conversations were not merely technical and that they were building blocks for an institution that would help safeguard its democratic values and further the aspirations of the African people.
She said moreover, the task of developing recommendations for a draft constitution was not just a legal or procedural undertaking, declaring that it was a profound responsibility, one that demands that they embrace the spirit of unity and resilience that had always defined Africa.
“As we deliberate and collaborate, let us remember that our diversity is our strength. Our shared commitment to a prosperous and integrated Africa driven by good governance, human rights, and the rule of law is the compass that will guide us towards achieving the Africa we all envision.”
Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, rallied his fellow Speakers and Presidents of African Parliaments to step up efforts to combat poverty on the African continent.
“As Africans, we share a common destiny and face the common enemies of ignorance, poverty, and deprivation. Let us remember that no single country can address these challenges alone. We are politically, culturally and economically interconnected, and collective action is therefore necessary to overcome these challenges.”
Source: GNA
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