Accra, Feb 17, GNA – Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has urged stakeholders to address challenges facing the Pan-African Parliament to enable the continental legislative body to resume meetings.
Mr Bagbin made the appeal in Accra during a courtesy call on him by Mr
Aldesouky Mahmoud Youssef, the Egyptian Ambassador to Ghana.
Mr Youssef called on the Speaker to announce his country’s readiness to build a Ghana-Egypt Parliamentary Friendships Association and also discuss strategies to deepen relations between both countries.
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) suspended its sittings after witnessing scuffles between some lawmakers over the election of new office bearers.
The suspension follows disagreements and disruptions that transpired during the procession of the plenary, last year.
Mr Bagbin said the Continent’s resolve to strengthen diplomacy at the parliamentary level among its member states could only be meaningful if urgent steps were taken to resume the operations of the Pan-African Parliament.
“We have gone beyond the traditional function of parliament to using parliament as an effective tool for parliamentary diplomacy,” he stated.
He recounted the longstanding ties Ghana had built with Egypt and reiterated his commitment to enhancing the bonds of friendship and cooperation for mutually beneficial outcomes.
Mr Youssef lauded the Speaker for the quality of leadership he was providing Ghana’s hung Parliament and assured him of his country’s continued commitment to the Pan-African Egypt Policy.
The Ambassador said he was hopeful that his time in Ghana would witness the strengthening of relations between his country and Ghana on the political, economic, commercial, educational, cultural, and healthcare fronts.
GNA