The opening session was attended by the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana and President of the Conference of Presidents of African Legislative Institutions, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rachid Talbi Alami, the Vice Speaker of the House of Councillors, Lahcen Haddad, the Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Martin Chungong, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria, Femi Gbajabiamila, as well as the Secretary General of CoSPAL, Dapo Oyewole.
During this session, which brings together speakers of parliaments and parliamentary delegations from various African countries, discussions will focus on several strategic and urgent issues of interest to the continent, notably Africa’s place in the international system and the means to build strong legislative institutions capable of achieving sustainable development.
Participants will also address demographic challenges and ways to harness the potential of African youth, as well as issues related to security, the fight against terrorism and extremism, and the role of scientific research and innovation in supporting public policies. African economic topics and the role of parliamentary diplomacy in facing geostrategic challenges will also feature prominently in the debates.
Part of the work will be dedicated to examining the strengthening of women’s representation in African parliaments, through the official launch of the project “Representation of Women in African Parliaments” (WRAP), carried out in partnership with specialised African and international institutions.
It should be recalled that the Conference of Presidents of African Legislative Institutions (CoSPAL) was established in 2020 in Nigeria, with the aim of strengthening coordination and consultation between the presidents of the continent’s legislative institutions. Its second session was held in Accra, the capital of Ghana, in October 2024, during which the Moroccan House of Representatives was elected to the conference’s advisory committee, representing the North Africa region.
Editorial team/le7tv