By Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
All is set for Ghana’s Parliament to host the 66th edition of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Conference slated for 30th September to 6th October 2023.
According to officials, the Accra International Conference Centre will be the venue to host the over 600 delegates, and officials from the globe who are expected to attend the seven-day remarkable event.
Addressing journalists at a special media briefing on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, the Clerk to Ghana’s Parliament, Mr. Cyril Kwabena Oteng Nsiah, outlined programmes and activities earmarked for the 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.
The event which is under the theme: “The Commonwealth Charter 10 years on: Values and Principles for Parliaments to Uphold,” will be held under the distinguished patronage of the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, the Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin who doubles as the President of the CPA and President of the Ghana Branch of the Association.
According to Mr. Cyril Nsiah, the conference aims to foster dialogue and cooperation among member countries to address global challenges within the context of Commonwealth Values. He noted that the event will be used to emphasize the significance of parliamentary diplomacy in tackling these challenges and highlight the role of parliaments in shaping policies for the benefit of their citizens.
The CPA was founded in 1911 as the Empire Parliamentary Association and now comprises 181 national and sub-branches across the nine regions of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC), an annual event of the CPA, was first held in the United Kingdom in 1948 and became an annual event in 1961. Ghana’s hosting of the 66th CPC marks the 17th time the CPA Africa Region is hosting the conference.
This 7-day conference is expected to draw Speakers and Presiding Officers, Parliamentarians, Clerks-to-Parliaments, Parliamentary Staff, and key stakeholders in parliamentary governance. The Parliament of Ghana anticipates hosting approximately 600 delegates, observers, and officials from 56 National Branches and 111 Sub-National Branches across the nine regions of the Commonwealth.
The conference will coincide with other significant events, including the 66th CPA General Assembly, meetings of the CPA Executive Committee, the 39th CPA Small Branches Conference, meetings of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP), the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) networks, the 57th Meeting of the Society of Clerks at the Table (SoCATT), and the presentation of the 2023 Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year awards.
The official opening ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, October 4, 2023, under the distinguished patronage of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who is also the Vice-Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
The opening ceremony will be followed by workshops addressing various topics, including security, human rights, environment, economy, gender, and other cross-cutting issues.
The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Bagbin as the President of the Association will preside over the General Assembly on Thursday, 5th October, 2023, and also chair the Elections Committee of the Association.
Rt. Hon. Speaker is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Association and will participate in the deliberations at the Meeting of the Executive Committee.
