Speaker calls for revival of Joint Committee

The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey on Thursday called for the revival of the meetings of the Joint Committees of Ghana and Algeria to help strengthen both bilateral and trade relations.

He said there was much the two countries could benefit from a mutual reunification of their relations not in trade but solidifying the already cordial relations established before the advent of independence of the two countries.

Mr Ala Adjetey said this when an eight-member delegation of the National People's Assembly of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria led by the Speaker, Mr Karim Younes and the Algerian Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Hossane Rabehi called on the Speaker, leadership and ranking members of Parliament.

The Speaker at a meeting with the delegation said since the Joint Committee had been moribund there was the need for the two Parliaments to ensure that they built bridges of re-uniting the two countries to benefit from each other's experiences.

Mr Ala Adjetey said the meeting was an occasion that afforded the delegation the opportunity to share ideas and collaborate on enforcing democratic governance.

He said Algeria had a larger population and had resources such as petroleum products as well as gas that Ghana could benefit from while Algeria could also import Ghana's highly rated pineapples.

The Speaker said the contributions of the First President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah to the struggle of the people of Algeria against French domination until it gained independence and the fruitful co-operation at international forums were issues worth maintaining.

He said "our policies have been identical in ensuring justice and non- suppression of man by man while our international policies have had bearing on global issues".

Mr Ala Adjetey said the re-union between the two countries needed to be consolidated with support to Ghana's Parliament to strengthen her democratic governance.

He said Ghana's Parliament lacked offices and facilities for her members to undertake their onerous duties even at the constituency level adding that democracy was expensive and costly but freedom was priceless.

Mr Younes said Algerians regarded Dr Nkrumah as one of the fathers of their revolution and the people of Ghana as their brethren and they had keen interest in the development agenda of the country.

He said a meeting between African Parliaments was a further step towards ensuring regional integration and co-operation that needed to be strengthened to facilitate the exchange of ideas.

The Algerian Speaker said Algeria continued to follow the progress of democracy in the continent and it was a source of pride that Ghana had achieved political and democratic governance, an improved economy and a peaceful transfer of political power.

Mr Younes said it was worthwhile that the two Parliaments had exhibited a new impetus to the collaboration in the form of multi- sectoral democracy that should be a reality for the benefit of the peoples of both countries.

Papa Owusu Ankomah, the Majority Leader, said the visit was in recognition of the deep, long-standing and historical relationship that existed between the two countries.

He said the commitment of members of Parliament to ensuring good governance in non-partisan stance was the surest route towards ensuring economic development and well being of the people.

Mr Alban Bagbin, the Minority Leader, stressed the need for all to continue to support and nurture the democratic dispensation in the whole the continent.