By Sulaiman Jalloh
Hon. Mohamed Bangura of the opposition All People’s Congress (APC), representing the people of Karene District has, on Monday, June 24, 2024 sworn in as a Member of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) in South Africa.
Ahead of the opening ceremony of the 3rd Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament, a session where over 20 new parliamentarians were sworn in, the lawmaker was among the new Pan-African Parliament (PAP) legislators that participated in an orientation, following elections in several African Union Member States and rotation within delegations.
The orientation session included an overview of the Parliament’s functions, roles of the African Union (AU) Constitutive Act, Organs of the AU and their functions, Pan-African Parliament Protocol, and Rules of Procedure. The MPs were also briefed on security issues and had a conducted tour within the institution’s premises.
“Our duty is to assist you in understanding how the Pan-African Parliament conducts its business. We are looking forward to your positive contributions as we seek to build a vibrant Africa for all. All the information we are sharing with you today is complemented by documents that will be made available to you,” Clerk of the Pan-African Parliament, Ms Lindiwe Khumalo said.
The Ordinary Session is scheduled to run from the 24th of June to the 5th of July, operating under the African Union’s theme.
The Pan African Parliament has about 275 members representing the 55 AU Member States that have ratified the Protocol establishing its five members per Member State, including at least one woman and representing the diversity of political opinions in their own national Parliament or deliberative organ.
It could be recalled that the former Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Dr Chernor Abass Bundu reportedly removed Hon. Mohamed Bangura from the list of parliamentarians who were supposed to be Members of the ECOWAS Parliament, an action that did not sit well with the latter.
Before his nomination to the Pan African Parliament, Hon. Mohamed Bangura was and still the Chairman of the Country’s Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee.
Copyright –Published in print in Expo Times Newspaper on Wednesday, June 26th , 2024 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
