Wetang’ula leads bid for C*mmonwealth parliamentary office be brought to Africa

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) member countries are rooting for the change of status of the organisation from a charitable body to an international inter-parliamentary institution.

Members attending the 66th CPA Annual Conference in Accra, Ghana took issue with the UK for taking its time in enacting the law that will facilitate the change of status, noting that they read a sinister move in the delay.

Speaking during the CPA caucus meeting Kenya National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and his Sierra Leone counterpart, Abbas Bundu, said that member countries cannot wait any longer for the UK to come up with the law that legalises change of status of CPA.

“If the UK does not expedite the process of changing the status of CPA then we have no option but to move the headquarters and secretariat to Africa,” said Wetang’ula.

“Kenya is ready to host the CPA headquarters. I have talked to our President, H.E (Dr) William Ruto on the matter and he has welcomed the move,” he added.

Bundu on his part said that member countries should give UK a timeline up to April, 2024 to implement the change of the status of CPA. “If by April next year the UK would not have heeded our word then we should move the headquarters of the CPS to Africa,” he said.

The meeting was told that apart from Kenya, other countries including Ghana, Malaysia, Tanzania and Uganda were also bidding to host the CPA headquarters if it were to be moved from the UK to Africa.

The caucus said it did not want the money paid as subscription by members to no longer go to the charity kitty hence the reason they were advocating for the change of the organization’s status.

The meeting noted that a change of status would enable them have a firm grip on the management of CPA activities.

The conference has brought together delegates from more than 60 member countries.

It provides an opportunity to meet parliamentary delegations from across the Commonwealth and to participate in plenary sessions and workshops on topics of Pan-Commonwealth interest. 

Wetang’ula is accompanied by MPs John Paul Mwirigi, Beatrice Adagala, Beatrice Elachi, Tim Wanyonyi, Makali Mulu, Patrick Simiyu, Ronald Karauri, Wamatinga Wahome, Zaheer Jhanda and National Assembly Clerk Samuel Njoroge.

Earlier in the week, Wetangula joined the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) delegates for the official opening of the 66th annual conference that is being held in Ghana International Conference Centre.

The conference was officially opened by Ghanian President  Nana Akufo-Addo and brought together delegates from more than 60 member countries.

The international meeting provides delegates with an opportunity to deliberate on matters of Pan-Commonwealth interest. Member countries have made proposals to have the CPA change its status from a charitable organization to an international Inter-parliamentary institution is among the agendas.