The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, has directed Parliament to facilitate the provision of benefits that will enable the Member of Parliament for Korley-Klottey, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, to effectively perform her duties as Second Vice-President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP).
He also urged Parliament to engage PAP to obtain details of the requirements and benefits due Dr Agyeman-Rawlings to ensure their prompt facilitation.
The benefits, contained in a communication from the President of PAP, Mr Fateh Boutbig, and read by Mr Bagbin on Tuesday, include an official vehicle, VIP protection, state protocol services, financial support, an office space and support staff.
In the communication, Mr Boutbig expressed appreciation to Ghana for its contribution to PAP and requested that Parliament facilitates the provision of the benefits at the national level to support Dr Agyeman-Rawlings in the discharge of her duties.
After reading the communication, Mr Bagbin said: “I urge the House to get in touch with PAP to get the details of these requirements or benefits and to proceed to ensure that they are provided to Dr Agyeman-Rawlings, to enable her perform her official duties as the Vice President of PAP not just for Ghana, but the whole of Africa.”
The Speaker also congratulated Dr Agyeman-Rawlings on her election as Second Vice-President of PAP, as well as other members of Ghana’s delegation who secured positions within the continental body.
They include the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Bernard Ahiafor, a member of PAP’s Rules Committee; the Minority Chief Whip, Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Chairman of the Health Committee; the Majority Chief Whip, Mr Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, a member of the Finance Committee; and Alhaji Collins Dauda, a member of the Trade Committee.
Mr Bagbin said the delegation had honoured Ghana and excelled in making meaningful contributions to PAP’s deliberations.
He urged other legislators to emulate the delegation’s performance at the PAP Conference held in Midrand, South Africa, and contribute to the development of the African continent.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings was elected Second Vice-President of PAP in April during the institution’s Extraordinary Session in Midrand, South Africa, winning decisively with 131 votes against her opponent’s 51.
She returned to Ghana last month to a rousing welcome at the Accra International Airport. She was received by the Chairperson of Parliament’s Women’s Caucus and MP for Ada, Mrs Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe, together with the Clerk to Parliament, Rev. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, Mr Dafeamekpor and other parliamentary dignitaries.
BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY
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