The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) in Midrand, South Africa has appointed a Ghanaian, Kenneth Akibate, Acting Deputy Clerk in charge of Finance, Administration and Human Resources for the continental legislative assembly.
His appointment was confirmed Thursday at the Plenary of the Second Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament, which ended on Friday.
Until his appointment, Mr Akibate served as the Serjeant- at- Arms ( Marshal) of the PAP while carrying out the Deputy Clerk role.
The Plenary also endorsed the appointment of Mrs Lindiwe Khumalo, former Executive Secretary of the African Commission on Human and People’s Right as the Clerk of the Pan- African Parliament.
Mr Akibate and another Deputy Clerk in charge of Legislative Business Department assist the Clerk, who is the Head of the Secretariat, to carry out the day-to-day Administration of the PAP.
Mr Akibate who has been with the PAP since 2006, having served as the Marshal of Ghana’s Parliament, told the Ghanaian Times on a WhatsApp chat that “it was gratifying to be entrusted with this daunting challenge as I consider the trust and confidence reposed on me by leadership of the Parliament as a motivation to not only acquit myself to expectation, but also to strive to do more.”
“As a seasoned public servant with decades of experience, of which over 20 years has been in the service of both Ghana Parliament and the continental Parliament, I see the appointment as a call for renewed vigour in my commitment and attitude to work with competence and efficiency,” he added.
The PAP is the legislative organ of the African Union set out by the treaty establishing the African Economic Community ( Abuja Treaty) in March 2004.
It has a membership of 275 parliamentarians from member countries.
The continental legislative body had been established to provide a platform for African people to be involved in the deliberation and decision- making on problems and challenges facing the continent.
The aim of the PAP is to evolve into an institution with full legislative powers,whose members are elected by universal adult suffrage.
It is headed by a Bureau, which has a President and four Vice Presidents representing the five regions of the continent.
Chief Fortune Charumbira of Zimbabwe is the current President of the PAP.
By Salifu Abdul-Rahaman
