Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Ghana President His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appealed to the Members of Parliament (MPs) of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) to embrace
Pan-Africanism. This he said at the opening of the fourth ordinary session of the fifth parliament of the PAP in Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa on Monday
The PAP is the legislative arm of the African Union (AU). “I am a strong believer in the work of Parliament, and, as we strive to deepen continental integration, and strengthen ties that exist between our respective
countries, we should create room for our respective countries, we should create rooms for our respective Parliaments to learn from each other, and, through
that process, enhance the prospects of continental integration,” he said. President Akufo-Addo said for the objectives of Agenda 2063 to be realised, there need to
be strong bilateral relations amongst members’ states. He further challenged the African legislatures to present a united front and take concerted efforts to improve the lives of the African inhabitants.
“It is time, my dear brothers and sisters, for us to transform our countries, and bring
prosperity to our peoples. We cannot continue to live in the continent that has majority of what is left of the world’s remaining minerals, and, yet has the
poorest people. “We should not have rich oil fields that make millionaires and billionaires of outsiders, whilst too many of our peoples live in abject poverty.
” Coming down hard on the exodus of African funds to overseas, he said: “What is
unconscionable, however, is that we continue to take monies from our countries into these developed countries, when we should be spending the money developing
our countries”. The west African country’s President highlighted that presenting a united front, the African leaders will be well positioned to meet ‘head-on’ and ‘defeat’ the
challenges confronting the continent citing climate change, illegal mass migration, armed conflicts, terrorism and violent extremism among others. Akufo-Addo
drew from the Agenda 2063 which aspires for Africa to be transformed “into the global powerhouse” adding that Africa “possess the requisite resources, human
and natural, needed for the progress of prosperity”. Taking stock of the role of the parliament, he remarked: “… in our respective countries we often underestimate the importance of Parliament, and,
consequently, undermine its work. We cannot emphasize enough the role of Parliament in exercising the checks and balances needed on the Executive. We cannot emphasize enough the role of Parliament as the voice of the people.
And, cannot emphasize enough the role of Parliament in setting the tone for public discourse in the country. “It is for the good of our countries that Parliaments on the continent develop the
capacity to insist on accountability in all aspects of our lives, especially in our governance, for no institution is better suited to do this than the one
composed of the representatives of the people. ” Also, Monday saw the swearing in of the three new local MPs to the continental parliament. These are: Hon.
Palo Leteetee, an MP for Qhalasi No. 57, Hon. ‘Mathato Phafoli Proportional Representative (PR) member for All Basotho Convention (ABC) and Hon. Tšeliso Kalake of Thupa-Kubu No. 26.
The other two Lesotho MPs who are members of PAP are Hon. Kose Makoa and the Senate Chieftainess Nthati Bereng of Phamong. Established in March 8, 2004 after the African Heads of State meeting in Malabo, Equatorial
Guinea, leading to signing of the Malabo Protocol which brought the PAP into existence, all the African States which are party to that protocol including Lesotho have a representation of five parliamentarians in this continental parliament.
