|
Pan African Parliament President visits Ghana
Accra, Nov. 7, Ghanadot/GNA - The President of the Pan
African Parliament, Dr. Gertrude Mongella, on Monday said
there was the need to move the continental body from its
current advisory role to a legislative body to speed up the
development of Africa through common laws.
She said the Pan African Parliament, as it stood now, had
only advisory responsibilities but could not continue with
that role since the body needed legislative functions and
powers to harmonise national laws across the continent by
giving legal backing to decisions taken by African Heads of
State, as Africa prepared to have a united continent just
like the European Union.
Dr. Mongella, who was speaking during a courtesy call on the
First Deputy Speaker, Mr Freddie Blay in Accra praised Ghana
for entrenching democracy, saying the country was a "big
brother" in democracy.
She expressed the hope that Ghana would maintain its lead in
ensuring a peaceful 2008 general elections.
Mr Blay, on his part, touched on the need to harmonise
national laws across Africa to ensure free trade and common
ties in various areas of cooperation to push the development
of the continent forward.
Alhaji Alhasan Malik Yakubu, Second Deputy Speaker, who is
also a member of the Pan African Parliament, said a strong
continental parliament was needed to deal with conflicts and
bad governance across the continent.
He praised Dr. Mongella for pushing hard to make the Pan
African Parliament meet its desired target of becoming a
body with legislative powers to entrench democracy across
Africa.
Dr. Mongella is expected to call on African Union Chairman,
President John Agyekum Kufuor to brief him on developments
within the organisation.
GNA
|
