23 Jul 2013

Pan African Parliament (PAP) president, Mr Bethel Nnaemeka Amadi on Monday paid a courtesy call on President Lt Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama to brief him on the process of transformation of the parliament.

In an interview after the courtesy call, Mr Amadi explained that the purpose of the visit was to hold consultations with the leadership of the National Assembly and the State President. He said he had fruitful discussions with President Khama and also briefed him on some of the key aspects of the amended protocol.

He said they were hopeful that the transformation would enhance living conditions of Africans and eradicate poverty. “The ongoing Pan African Parliament (PAP) process of transformation is expected to create employment opportunities for young people in Africa”, he said.

He stated that it was agreed in the protocol established in parliament that after five years of its initial existence, the protocol would be reviewed to give enhanced functions to the parliament. The process started in 2009 following the executive council decision that the protocol amendment be facilitated by the African Union Legal Council.

Mr Amadi said the protocol was approved in May 2012 by the ministers of justice and attorney generals of member states and was presented to the parliament representatives committee of AU.

The process of ratification and adoption of that amended protocol was ongoing and they were hopeful that member states through the consultation that they have held would support the adoption of the amended protocol, he further said.

That, he said, would give enhanced functions to the PAP in clearly defined areas and would not in any way be a continental parliament but would be to create an institution within the AU that would support the work of the African Union in having the ability to provide the legislative framework for the integration of the African continent.

All draft model laws to be developed by the PAP would still be subject to the approval or ratification of member states and would also be subject to the adoption by heads of the summit of all member states.

He said they were hopeful that the process would help to ensure that they had common standards and harmonisation of values on areas that were important to Africans such as areas of environment management across the continent, intra Africa trade.

He said they were convinced that PAP, which was the continental integration, should begin through economic integration that would enhance development of the continent saying there should be more trade between African countries.

He stated that it would also be an institution within the African Union governance architecture that could play a key role in enhancing development, good governance, promoting parliamentary democracy in the continent as well as promoting peace and security.

PAP was established in 2004 to serve other platform for African people and grassroot organisations to make an input in decision making process in finding solutions to problems facing the continent. BOPA