By Makutu Manneh
The 54th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region Conference has concluded in Banjul, with delegates adopting a series of far-reaching resolutions aimed at strengthening democratic governance, promoting economic resilience, and addressing climate change challenges across the continent.
Over the course of the multi-day gathering, lawmakers and parliamentary leaders from across Africa deliberated on pressing issues affecting the region, culminating in resolutions covering a wide range of policy areas. Among the adopted measures are calls for stronger asset-disclosure laws to enhance transparency and combat corruption, as well as comprehensive procurement reforms to ensure fairness, efficiency, and accountability in public spending. Delegates also endorsed the introduction of local-content mandates to boost domestic industries and the removal of barriers to intra-African trade, a step seen as critical to unlocking the full potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
In the environmental sphere, the conference backed the issuance of sovereign green bonds to fund sustainable development projects, alongside the enforcement of the “polluter pays” principle to hold environmental offenders accountable. On governance and inclusivity, resolutions included legislative quotas to promote diversity in political representation, universal accessibility standards for public infrastructure, and universal health coverage legislation. The health proposals also emphasized strategies to retain skilled medical professionals in Africa, addressing the long-standing challenge of brain drain. In addition, delegates agreed on the adoption of formal parliamentary codes of practice and capacity-building programs to strengthen legislative institutions across member states.
According to the National Assembly of The Gambia, these resolutions will not remain symbolic.“Resolutions from the Banjul meeting will be presented at the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Bridgetown, Barbados, this October,” the legislature announced via its official Facebook page.
The conference also marked a leadership transition within the CPA Africa Region. Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, Speaker of the National Assembly of The Gambia, was elected as the new chairperson of the CPA executive committee, succeeding Hon. Catherine Gotani Hara, Speaker of the Parliament of Malawi. In his acceptance speech, Hon. Jatta pledged to lead with “unwavering integrity” and reaffirmed his commitment to the shared objectives of the association. He called on all delegates to sustain the spirit of cooperation and collective responsibility that characterized the discussions in Banjul.
Reflecting on her three-year tenure, Hon. Catherine Gotani Hara highlighted notable achievements, particularly the “Women in Leadership” initiative, which succeeded in securing 30% female representation at CPA conferences. She noted that this milestone aligned with broader constitutional reforms in several member states, aimed at advancing gender parity in political leadership.
In a further show of unity, delegates unanimously endorsed Hon. Nontembeko Nothemba Boyce of South Africa as Africa’s sole candidate for the position of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) International Chairperson. The endorsement was accompanied by a pledge from African member parliaments to mount a coordinated lobbying campaign ahead of the global vote, underscoring the continent’s commitment to amplifying women’s voices in legislative affairs.
The Banjul conference not only produced actionable commitments but also reinforced the CPA Africa Region’s role as a platform for collaboration, policy innovation, and the exchange of best practices among Commonwealth legislators. Many participants expressed optimism that the resolutions adopted will shape legislative agendas across Africa in the coming years, with the potential to transform governance, economic growth, and environmental stewardship on the continent.