News:
April 8, 2019
Ranking Member on Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has lamented over a development in both Pan-African and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament where the name of Ghana keeps popping up for non-ratification of some important treaties and conventions.
He further pointed out that at the begging of the first meeting of the third session there was listed in the agenda the treaties and conventions, but unfortunately the House has a week to go and nothing had been done about this.
“We have general convention on recognition of equivalence of diploma certificate in other member ECOWAS states, Kampala Convention on Internally Displace Persons, 1954 Convention on the Status of Stateless Person”.
Again, our representatives in Pan-African and ECOWAS have told us our name keeps popping up as few nations yet to ratify these conventions which would benefit the people we represent.
“When we meet Ambassadors in the international arena, it keeps coming up, some of them are visa wavers for countries so that Ghanaians can travel to those countries without visa. And save our people from going through stress, visa application fees”.
President Nana Akufo-Addo had signed international agreements recently in Malta where he agreed with his counterpart President for visa waiver, he stated.
Minister should do follow ups and see these through for ratification. When not done all these would be in the abstract level and our people would not benefit from these agreements, he added.
In her response, the Deputy Majority Leader who presented the business statement for the ensuing week noted that, “We are very much aware of our responsibility and our duties under article 75 of the 1992 constitution.
International treaties and conventions are required to be brought to, this honorable House for ratification for it to serve a purpose in our domestic laws would be taken up with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration together with the committee chair to see how we can bring these treaties and conventions for ratification”.
.Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com