By Bakary Touray Jr
Lawmakers at the country’s Legislative House in the Gambian capital, Banjul on Monday, adopted the report of the National Assembly delegation to the 3rd Ordinary Sessions of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), held in Mirdland, South Africa, from 2 -19 November 2019.
As Mansa Banko Online gathered, the Pan-African Parliament, also known as the African Parliament, is the legislative body of the African Union and held its inaugural session in March 2004, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, before the seat was moved to South Africa.
Set up in accordance with the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community (Abuja Treaty), the PAP exercises oversight, and has advisory and consultative powers. It’s intended as a platform for peoples from all African states to be involved in discussions and decision-making on the problems and challenges facing the African continent.
The Treaty sanctioned that each Member State shall be represented in the PAP by a delegation of five Parliamentarians, at least one of whom must be a woman. It’s been indicated that the composition of the delegation of each Member State should reflect the political diversity of the Member State’s legislative body.
Meanwhile, in putting their report before the National Assembly of The Gambia, Hon. Alagie S. Darboe, the NAM for Brikama South, who’s part of the Gambian delegation, told the deputies that the Pan-African Parliament is to ensure the full participation of African Peoples in the development and economic integration of the continent.
The Gambian lawmaker informed his colleagues that the Pan-African Parliament has its seat in Midrand, South Africa. The total membership of PAP, as Hon. Darboe reported to the Gambian lawmakers, is expected to be over 270 parliamentarians, representing 54 countries of the continent–with the exception of Eritrea.
He further remarked before the Legislative House that, PAP is informed by the vision to provide a common platform for African peoples and their grassroots organizations to be more involved in discussions and decision-making on the problems and challenges facing the continent.
PAP is premised on facilitating the effective implementation of the objectives and policies of African Union, promote the principles of human rights and democracy in Africa, and encourage good governance.
Hon. Darboe pointed out, it’s also to promote transparency and accountability in Members States, facilitate cooperation and development in Africa, strengthening solidarity by building a sense of common destiny among the peoples of Africa, promote peace, security and stability and contribute to a more prosperous future for the peoples of Africa by promoting collective self-reliance and economic recovery, among other things.
The Gambian delegation’s report on PAP sessions was given parliament’s “blessing” after a vigorous debate by the NAMs.
Meantime, the Government’s chief legal advisor, Justice Minister Ba Tambedou, had presented before the NAMs, some Bills including Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2019, Public Order (Amendment) Bill 2019, Information and Communication Bill 2019, National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Bill 2019, Women’s (Amendment of Discriminatory Laws) Bill 2019, and Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill 2019.
Sittings continued at the National Assembly complex in Banjul
