The 4th meeting of the Secretaries-General of African Parliaments (ASGAP) has elected its new leadership at the ongoing August Sittings of the Permanent Committees of the sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in Midrand, South Africa.
Held from 30th – 31st of August, the meeting of the ASGAP seeks to promote coordination and harmonisation of parliamentary action and advocacy in relation to the national and regional implementation of the African Union theme of the Year 2022, ratification of African Union treaties, particularly the PAP Malabo Protocol and sustainable responses to the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The meeting saw the Chairperson, 1st Vice Chairperson and 2nd Vice Chairperson being elected by consensus of regional representation.
MsLydia Tjihimise from Namibia was elected the Chairperson, deputised by 1st Vice Chairperson Ngib El- Hadi from Egypt while Akissi Atse Ronald Olivier from Côte d'Ivoire is the 2nd Vice Chairperson.
“I am glad that we are making progress as a group and we need to continue pulling in the same direction for us to achieve our goals,” said Ms Lydia Tjihimise after being elected the Chairperson.
“I understand that the previous administration of which I was a part was affected by the pandemic Covid-19 in its duties. Now it is high time we covered up for that lost time and made our continent proud. We need one another for our growth; on behalf of this new administration, we are committing to working with everyone. We need your support, there is more to be done. Let us make sure that working with the PAP we also contribute to their growth in all aspects. I am impressed by the engagements and submissions that continue to pour in from our membership and various speakers.”
Opening the meeting earlier the PAP Acting Clerk, Gali Massa Harou said the meeting of Secretaries-General of African Parliaments is an important platform to discuss the coordination of actions and harmonization of legal and policy frameworks by national and regional parliaments of the African Union and the sharing of best parliamentary practices to support our institutions and advance economic integration and development in Africa, which is the raison d'être of PAP.
The meeting was guided by the African Union (AU) theme for 2022: “Building resilience in nutrition on the African continent: Accelerate the human capital, social and economic development”
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