The newly elected speaker of Parliament of Sierra Leone, Rt. Hon. Segepoh Solomon Thomas has been elected as the President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) for the Africa Region.

In his speech at the official opening of the 53rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Africa Anual General Assembly Conference in Arusha, Tanzania, Speaker Thomas conveyed warm greetings from President Julius Maada Bio and the people of Sierra Leone. He expressed special appreciation for the presence of Tanzania’s Vice President, Dr. Philip Mpango, who represented President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the event.

The conference brought together parliamentary leaders from across the African continent and served as a platform for discussing and addressing key issues affecting the region, including democracy, development, and good governance.

Speaker Solomon Thomas applauded  Tanzania’s leadership and highlighted the critical role of parliaments in promoting democracy, development, and good governance across the African continent.

The Speaker of Sierra Leone’s Parliament who now happened to be the advocate for the interest of African parliaments and a promoter of regional cooperation praised President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her visionary leadership, particularly in democracy, good governance, and inclusive development. He praised Tanzania’s efforts to promote gender equality and regional peace, describing them as a testament to its exemplary progress.

One of the key highlights of Speaker Thomas’ speech was his commendation of President Hassan’s recent launch of Tanzania’s National Clean Cooking Energy Strategy. The initiative, which aims to ensure 80% of the population uses clean cooking energy by 2024, was recognized as a significant step towards improving public health and combating climate change.

“Tanzania’s clean energy initiative is a shining example of how practical policies can lead to meaningful change. CPA Africa Region recognizes and applauds Tanzania’s leadership in addressing climate change,” Speaker Thomas stated.

He emphasized that such initiatives help mitigate environmental challenges and set a benchmark for other African nations to follow.

The Speaker also called for increased collaboration among African parliaments to address the continent’s critical challenges, including food security and gender parity in leadership. He reiterated the importance of ensuring that parliamentary systems remain platforms where marginalized voices are heard and reflected in legislative agendas.

“As parliaments, we must ensure that the needs and aspirations of the voiceless are at the heart of our legislative discussions,” Thomas emphasized.

As the event drew to a close, Speaker Thomas introduced Tanzania’s Vice President, Dr. Philip Mpango, to deliver the keynote address and officially inaugurate the conference. He expressed confidence in Dr. Mpango’s ability to inspire and enhance the ongoing parliamentary discussions with his insights and wisdom.

The 53rd CPA Africa Annual General Conference, held at the Grand Melia Arusha, runs from September 29 to October 7, 2024. It brings together parliamentary leaders from across Africa to deliberate on pressing issues facing the continent and explore pathways for deeper collaboration towards shared goals of peace, prosperity, and development.