Sierra Leone Parliament has on Monday 6 June Commenced the Commonwealth Parliamentary
Association Africa (CPA) Regional conference at the Bintumani International Conference Center in
Freetown. In his goodwill message, Secretary-General of the CPA, Stephen Twigg, commended the President’s strong commitment to universal high-quality education and stated that the forthcoming meeting in Rwanda would provide an opportunity for the Commonwealth to reset their shared commitment to education.
Chairperson of CPA, Africa Region’s Executive Committee, and Speaker of the National Assembly the Rt.
Hon. Justin B.N. Muturi expressed gratitude to President Bio for his clear illustration of commitment
and support to the ideals of parliamentary democracy, which their organization sought to achieve.
He disclosed that the CPA Africa Region had also spearheaded efforts to change the association’s legal
status from a charitable one to an international organization. Speaker of Sierra Leone Parliament and President of CPA Africa Region, Rt. Hon. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu said they had come together as an international community of Commonwealth parliament and legislatures working together to enlarge and deepen commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance, gender equality, and equal representation.
“No time is more auspicious for Commonwealth Africa to meet in Freetown than now that the Queen
Elizabeth II of the UK is celebrating the platinum jubilee of her reign. Sierra Leone has long been an
enduring symbol of Africa’s history and spirit, its continuity and endurance, its vitality and resilience.
Officially opening the conference, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio
addressed lawmakers from across Africa and used the occasion to congratulate Queen Elizabeth II of
the United Kingdom on her Platinum Jubilee. “I must add that the strengths of our democracies in the Commonwealth have endured, thanks to the role of Parliaments. You debate, modify, adapt, and pass legislation on policies, positions, and visions. You are tasked with voicing diverse views and approving the aspirations of citizens. That is no mean task. “Let me hasten to say, on this platinum jubilee of Her Majesty’s reign, that I and the people of The Republic of Sierra Leone wish to commend and congratulate the sovereign of our Commonwealth of Nations for her selfless, steadfast, caring, and inspirational leadership over the last 70 years,” he said. President Bio further noted that the theme of this year’s conference is “The Role of African Parliaments in Building Inclusive Society to Counter Growing Insecurity in Africa”, he was keen on how African Parliaments could support the building of inclusive societies.
“How can they support legislation that narrows social, economic, and political gaps? How can they
create and support agile and responsive laws that promote equal opportunity and access? How does
parliamentary work support the building of inclusive, resilient, and sustainable societies? To my mind,
therefore, honourable members, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, these questions should constitute
the staple of discussions over the next couple of days,” he said. At the occasion of the opening ceremony of CPA, Africa Region Conference in Freetown, the Deputy Speaker of the Sierra Leone Parliament, Hon. Sengepoh Solomon Thomas, joined the Leaders of Government Business Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma and the main opposition All People’s Congress party Leader in Parliament Hon. Chernor Ramadan Maju Bah presented an award to President Julius Maada Bio.
By Mohamed Amara Gando
