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Speaker Anita Among’s call for African nations within the Commonwealth to unite and leverage their numerical strength to advance strategic interests, promote African values, and advocate for fair representation within the organization.

Speaker Anita Among (In pink) with other delegates at the 86th executive committee meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Parliament Speaker Anita Among has urged African nations within the Commonwealth to harness their numerical strength to advance their African values and aspirations.

Addressing attendees on Monday, March 11, 2024, at the 86th executive committee meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) (Africa Region) held at the Protea Hotel in Entebbe, Speaker Among emphasized that the CPA Africa Region serves as a strategic platform for uniting African nations towards unity, sustainable growth, and development.

“This gathering serves as a reminder of the global challenges and historical colonial imbalances that continue to fragment, exploit, marginalize, and oppress our people. Africa possesses significant numerical strength within the Commonwealth. However, we have yet to fully utilize this advantage to promote and advocate for our strategic interests,” Among remarked.

The 86th executive committee meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

She called upon other African nations within the Commonwealth to capitalize on this association to empower Africa and overcome the major obstacles and challenges affecting its populace.

“Can we lead the charge for fair, equitable, and sustainable trade, industrialization, and value addition, as well as sustainable extraction and processing of natural resources? Can we uphold and safeguard our cherished African values, particularly the sanctity of the African family as the cornerstone of human existence, equity, inclusivity, equality, and shared prosperity, while also addressing the plight of those affected by natural and man-made disasters?” she inquired.

Among expressed confidence that the meeting would serve as a catalyst for positive change.

“To realize this transformative change, we must collaborate as a unified entity in our engagements with the broader Commonwealth,” she affirmed.

Among also stressed the imperative of rejecting the characterization of the CPA as a charitable organization based in the UK.

“Africa faces numerous charitable causes stemming from colonialism, imperialism, unfair trade practices, and climate change, surpassing those of the UK. It is unjust and unacceptable for Africa to contribute financial resources in the form of subscription fees to an organization labeled as a charity in the UK. It is time for decisive action,” Among asserted.

She advocated for the independence of the CPA from UK oversight.

“While we remain committed to the CPA, it is imperative to recognize that it is not a charitable entity but an international parliamentary organization. If the UK government is unwilling to enact legislation altering the CPA’s status from a charity to an international parliamentary organization, as it appears, Africa must collaborate with other Commonwealth regions to emancipate the CPA from UK control,” she emphasized.

The CPA represents the collective of Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures, dedicated to promoting good governance, democracy, and human rights.

In contrast, the CPA Africa Region, a subset of the CPA, was established with the mandate to advocate for and safeguard the interests and perspectives of African regional parliaments and countries within and beyond the Commonwealth. It is also committed to advancing gender equality, women’s empowerment, and upholding human rights, freedoms, democracy, and good governance.