At a meeting of the Africa Group which centred mainly on the election of the new Secretary-General of the IPU, the Chair of CoSPAL was offered the floor to brief Speakers on the activities of CoSPAL to date, as well as progress towards the preparation of an updated draft of the Constitution. Speakers present reiterated their authorisation of the creation of CoSPAL, and urged their colleagues to demonstrate commitment by studying and submitting inputs into the draft Constitution to facilitate discussion and adoption at a later date. There were also suggestions that the IWG should commence work on examining the mode of integrating CoSPAL into the existing structure of the African Union.
Programme Category: Featured
CoSPAL Meeting on the Sidelines of 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Meeting, Accra, 3rd October 2023
On 3rd October 2023, African Speakers and Presidents of Parliaments convened in Accra, Ghana, during the 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Meeting to advance collaboration and institutionalise CoSPAL.
The meeting focused on:
- Providing Updates: Speakers were briefed on the progress, developments, and challenges within CoSPAL since its inception.
- Draft Constitution: Deliberations were initiated toward the formal adoption of the draft CoSPAL Constitution, developed by the Interim Working Group (IWG), to establish a framework for membership, structure, activities, and financing.
Speakers unanimously endorsed CoSPAL as a unique platform to complement other inter-parliamentary organisations and highlighted its potential role in strengthening the institutional framework of African and its specialised organs.
The meeting was attended by notable African parliamentary leaders, including:
– Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin (Ghana, Chair of CoSPAL)
– Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, PhD, GCON (Nigeria)
– Rt. Hon. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula (South Africa)
– Rt. Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta (Gambia)
– Hon. Pono Moatlhodi (Botswana)
– Rt. Hon. Nelly Kashumba Butete Mutti (Zambia)
– Rt. Hon. Dr. Abass Bundu (Sierra Leone)
– Hon. Dr. Tulia Ackson (Tanzania)
– Rt. Hon. Mukabalisa Donatille (Rwanda)
– Hon. Solomon Lechesa Tsenoli (South Africa).
Side Meeting at the Sidelines of the 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference: Halifax (2022).
On 24th August 2022, CoSPAL convened on the sidelines of the 65th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) in Halifax, Canada. The then Speaker of Nigeria’s 9th House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, CFR, presented CoSPAL’s agenda and provided an update on the progress achieved.
During the meeting, he emphasised CoSPAL as the exclusive indigenous platform for Speakers and Presidents of Parliaments to engage, collaborate, and shape unified strategies to address Africa’s challenges. He also highlighted the platform’s role in fostering peer-to-peer support and solidarity among African legislatures. The meeting concluded with a resolution to draft a CoSPAL Constitution, which would be presented for discussion and adoption at the next CoSPAL meeting.