Opening Ceremony

CPA Vice-Patron, H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, gives keynote address at 66th CPC opening ceremony 

The CPA Vice-Patron, His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Repbulic of Ghana, urged Commonwealth Parliamentarians to work together to uphold democratic principles and the values of the Commonwealth as he opened the 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference for over 500 delegates in Accra, Ghana.

The CPA Vice-Patron and President of Ghana said:

I urge Commonwealth Parliamentarians to reflect deeply on the goal of the values and principles in the Commonwealth Charter and focus your discussions on the goal of attaining and maintaining the democratic ethos of this noble community. I commend the Commonwealth for its commitment to the rule of law, open and tolerant societies, equality for all and respect for fundamental human rights and freedoms.”

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SOCATT

57th Society-of-Clerks-at-the-Table meeting

The 57th Meeting of the Society-of-Clerks-at-the-Table (SoCATT) took place in the margins of the Conference.

The meeting brought together Parliamentary Clerks and parliamentary staff from Commonwealth Parliaments to discuss the latest legislative practices and to share best practice.

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Professional Development

CPC Workshops

On day five of the Conference, delegates took part in eight learning and development workshops.

The workshops provided a space for delegates to share their experiences as Parliamentarians and discuss issues including human rights, the separation of powers and gender quotas.

Highlights included a showcase on how deepfakes can spread disinformation and a youth roundtable attended by students from universities across Ghana.

Detailed reports from the workshops will be available in the next issue of The Parliamentarian, Journal of Commonwealth Parliaments.

Awards

2023 Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year awards

The Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year 2023 Awards were announced at the conclusion of the CPA General Assembly.

Four Parliamentarians were recognised for their contributions to Parliament and service to their constituents:

• Parliamentarian of the Year Award: Hon. Nelly Mutti, MP, Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia
• Parliamentary Equality and Diversity Award: Hon. Ntombi Lentheng Mekgwe, MPL, Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Hon. Myrna Driedger, MLA, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba
• New Parliamentarian Award: Hon. Tanya August-Hanson, MLC, Member of the Isle of Man Legislative Council

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Governance

CPA General  Assembly

On the final day of the Conference, the CPA General Assembly, the organisation's sovereign decision-making body, met to make key decisions about the organisation.

The General Assembly also included a topical debate on food security and sustainability in the Commonwealth, with presenters from jurisdictions including Australia, Tanzania, Canada, Isle of Man and Turks and Caicos Islands.

Governance

CPA Vice-Chairperson elected

The 66th CPA General Assembly was followed by a meeting of the new CPA Executive Committee during which Hon. Arthur Holder, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Barbados, was confirmed for the position of Vice-Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee. The position of Vice-Chairperson is for a term of one year and the holder is also a Member of the CPA Co-ordinating Committee.

Feedback

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Images and resources

• For the latest news and images from the 66th CPC - follow us on social media using the hashtag #66CPC
• You can also download the latest images from the 66th CPC at the CPA's Flickr page.