JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, December 10, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) today (Thursday) issued a communiqué on the African Governance Platform (AGP) and promotion of African Union Legal Instruments, following two days of deliberations in Port Harcourt, Nigeria which began yesterday.
The meeting, which was hosted by the Rivers State House of Assembly, was attended by Pan-African Parliamentarians from the West African Region, as well as parliamentarians from other Regions of Africa.
In his opening speech, the President of the PAP, Hon. Bethel Nnaemeka Amadi, reminded that the launch of the AGP was inspired by the decision of the 16th Summit of the AU that focused on theme Shared Values, which seeks to foster “exchange of information, facilitate the elaboration of common positions on governance and strengthen the capacity of Africa to speak with one voice”.
Hon. Amadi said that the meeting will “explore the progress of the ratification and domestication of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, the African Charter on Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration, and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption in Africa.”
The Hon. President concluded by saying that “our continent can only remain viable if we sustain and consolidate our democratic ideals, enforce the principles of human rights and implement a sound principle of public service and administration.” He warned that “we no longer have the luxury of time, and the time to act is now, and the responsibility is ours as the representatives of the people.”
The opening ceremony was also addressed by the Hon. Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan Amachree, who welcomed the participants to Port Harcourt and wished them fruitful deliberations.
Other speakers included the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, H.E. Dr. Aisha Abdullahi; the Chairperson of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, H.E. Ms. Dupe Atoki; the President of the AU Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), H.E. Akere Muna; the ECOWAS Parliament Representative, Sen. Olugbenga Obadara and Mr. Brian Kagoro, representing the UNDP.
In their final Communiqué, the Parliamentarians expressed concern that “based on 2002 World Bank report 25% of $148 billion of Africa’s resources and 50% of tax revenue and $30 Billion Aid for Africa ended up in corruption.”
They resolved that the PAP should “embark on a campaign to ensure that 10 more ratifications on the African Charter on Values and Principles of the Public Service are deposited with the AUC by 2013.”
They also resolved that the “PAP to sensitise national Parliaments on the need to mainstream AU legal instruments with national Constitutions to achieve harmonization as envisaged by the Protocol establishing the PAP.”
They further resolved that the PAP should “work with the African Union and other anti–corruption bodies to support the ratification, domestication and the implementation of the Anti-Corruption Convention.”
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