The Vice-president of the Republic of Ghana, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudur Bawumia, has tasked the commonwealth Parliamentary Association(CPA) to put a proper mechanism in place to help curb terror attacks and threats of attacks in some areas of the continent.

According to him, recent military interventions in countries such as Mali, Guinea, Sudan, Burkina Faso and Chad are evidence of a decline in the National reconstruction efforts in the region.
Speaking at the 82nd Executive Meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association(CPA), Africa Region, Dr. Bawumia urged the legislatures not to lose sight of the fact that Africa continues to be the Weakest link in the world economic order.

He said the convergence of our currencies, at least on a sub-regional basis, and the easing of national border restrictions are some of the ways we can create a more homogeneous political and economic unit for our economies.

“It is in this regard that I consider the opportunity offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) very unique for us to begin to adopt homegrown policies to vigorously promote trade among ourselves. This agenda, if well pursued, would not only boost Africa’s trading position in the global market but also strengthen Africa’s common voice and policy space in global trade negotiation, a key factor that appears to be missing in our engagement in world trade and economic order.”
He stressed that “It is important to remind ourselves that, as Political leaders, we have the responsibility to rebuild the confidence of our People in Democratic governance by demonstrating selfless leadership,” he added.

The  Vice president continued that the current composition of Ghana’s Parliament is not exclusively unique to us is certainly indicative of a vote population that desires consensus building for a unified political force, rather than the divisive, overly partisan, vinner-takes-all intolerant political system which obtained and, unfortunately, still obtains in many African countries.
To him, this emerging trend close-to-party in numbers of seats in Parliament between majority and Minority parties as obtains also in Sierra Leone behooves us to perhaps, begin to adopt in our procedures and processes, new ways of doing business with a focus on a collective approach to delivering the requisite public goods and services for which the citizenry have entrusted us with their mandate.

Touching on the Women and the vulnerable, Mr. Bawumia said practices that affect women, children and the marginalized in society should no longer be considered as economic or social issues but as issues that have a direct correlation with democratic government.

On the other hand, Vice-Chair, CPA-West Africa also the majority leader of Ghana’s Parliament, Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu said African countries need as a matter of urgency to promote diversity growth and job creation with the focus on the youth, women and the poor in marginalised areas.
According to the leader, constant efforts must be made in a structured manner to increase domestic revenue mobilisation and improve the quality of public expenditures and strengthen debt management.

He added that the commonwealth Member States should view the crisis and the increasing demand from their people as an opportunity to map up a different developmental trajectory that is more sustainable, and more inclusive.