ACCRA, GHANA: The departmental committee on defence and foreign relations paid a courtesy call at the speaker of the parliament of ghana & the committee on defence & interior.
A section of Honorable Members of the National Assembly’s Committee on Defence and Foreign Relation led by Hon. Charles Kilonzo paid a courtesy call to the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana who is also the presiding officer of the Parliament of Ghana Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin.
The Honorable Members are on a diplomatic visit in Ghana and have extended a call on enhanced Parliamentary Diplomacy between the two Parliaments.
During their visit, they presented Hon. Bagbin with a message of goodwill from his Kenyan counterpart the Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya Hon. Justin Muturi.
In his Speech, Hon. Bagbin acknowledge that Kenya and Ghana have had an existing long history in the struggle of independence involving the fore fathers of the two nations hence creating great linkages and pan-Africanism between the two nations.
“Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and Dr. Kwame Nkrumah established a great and unique relationship between Kenya and Ghana.
Both Ghana and Kenya should strive to ensure that the friendship is cemented in the way we associate and conduct businesses between ourselves “said Hon. Bagbin.
The Speaker emphasized that there were great opportunities between the two Nations in Trade, Tourism, Educations sectors among others that need to be explored.
He fondly remembered his visit to Kenya when he attended a National Prayer Breakfast in 2019 saying that the visit was epic and one of its kind calling for further strengthening of Parliamentary diplomacy and Association among the two countries.
On the other hand, Hon. Kilonzo gifted the Speaker with the Kenyan Coffee and Tea products asking him to experience the uniqueness in taste of the two beverages calling for friendly legislation for future trading abilities among the two nations.
Further, the Committee met their counterparts from the Committee of Defence and Interior in the Parliament of Ghana under the leadership of Hon. Bryan Acheampong, Member of Parliament of Abetifi constituency in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
The two committees exchanged ideas on matters legislation, budget and oversight mandates as specific roles under their purview.
During the meeting, members established a lot of similarities in their operations even though they are treated with unique experiences from their regions of origin.
They both acknowledged that there are certain sectors that the two countries can potentially collaborate through legislation including security, education, trade, tourism, agriculture among others hence enhancing synergy and creating strong ties among the two Parliaments.
The committee will be holding a series of meetings with trade related stakeholders in Ghana including visiting the recently established Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.
Members of the Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations in the diplomatic mission to Ghana include; Hon. Charles Kilonzo, Hon. Ernest Ogesi Kivai, Hon. Elijah Memusi Kanchory, Hon. Maj. (Rtd.) Bashir Sheikh Abdullah and Hon. Zachary Thuku Kwenya.
