News:
March 4, 2018
President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria H. E. Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki has delivered the keynote address at a symposium commemorating 25 years of Ghana’s uninterrupted Parliamentary Democracy on the theme “The future of good governance in Africa”.
He stated that Parliament is the best defender of Africa’s democracy and must be preserve at all times and noted that the strength of democracy stands in the strength of Parliament.
According to him, the special relations between the two countries dates back to the days of their founding fathers Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Dr Namdi Azikiwe to give hope to the rest of Africa.
The Senate President who trained as a medical doctor urged African governments to place premium on the education of the masses to safeguard the future.
He also encouraged regional bodies to institute workable measures and strengthen their security apparatus which is a threat to development.
The Speaker of the Nigerian Senate urged Ghana and his country to ensure that trade between the two nations peak for the benefit of their people.
African Parliaments, he said, must come together and cross pollinate ideas in support of their governments.
The former Governor of Kuara State called for collaboration within the ECOWAS sub-region which has the capacity to drive the economic prospects of Africa and its people whiles urging Ghana and Nigeria to be in the driving seat for development.
H . E the Senate President said the challenges of unemployment which make the youth of the continent live in hopelessness must be reversed to make the continent a place of opportunities for all.
He advocates increase in inter trade based on economic model that produces primarily for the African market.
African governments have also been urged to take critical look at rail, ICT, modernization and renewable sources of energy development to make Africa a place of investment.
Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki urged the passage of land mark economic laws to help small scale businesses and critical look at some ECOWAS treaties for industrial development aimed at the economic Empowerment for the people he said are key to the development of the continent.
Opportunities he said must be provided for the private sector to make room for infrastructure development.
He indicated that good governance must make people feel that they are governing themselves.
The symposium was on the theme “25 Years of Continuous Parliamentary Democracy in Ghana- Challenges and Prospects”.
The symposium has thus set in motion activities marking a year-long anniversary commemorating Ghana’s 25 years of uninterrupted Parliamentary democracy.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC), Ghana Bar Association (GBA) and the Coalition on Civil Society had a panel discussion on the topic ” the Forth Republican Parliament in Retrospect “.
The symposium was graced with President Nana Addo-Dankwa-Akufo-Addo, Members of the Bench, members of the Council of State, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Ministers of State, former Members of Parliament, Traditional Rulers, the Clergy, Political Party functionaries and several others.
Other activities marking the 25th anniversary of Ghana’s uninterrupted Parliamentary Democracy include a luncheon with former Members of Parliament and leadership of Parliament, Mock Parliament demonstrations by Students Parliament in the country, Quiz competitions among the Students Parliaments, fitness walk, public forum and interdenominational thanksgiving services.
By Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com