Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has called on the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) to shift its focus from speeches and resolutions to concrete actions that produce measurable outcomes for the continent.
Addressing the First Ordinary Session of the Seventh Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa, the Ghanaian legislator urged the continental body to pursue practical reforms, strengthen institutional discipline, and demonstrate results capable of restoring public confidence in its work.
His intervention came during deliberations on the future of the Parliament, including discussions on its funding, committee system, and strategies for advancing African integration.
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh also raised concerns about developments in South Africa, saying it was contradictory for delegates to continue meeting in the country while incidents that appear to undermine the African Union’s principles and values continue to occur.
Although he acknowledged South Africa’s sovereignty and the importance of respecting the country’s internal affairs, he stressed that all AU member states have an obligation to uphold the conventions and shared values that underpin the continental bloc.
According to him, the Pan-African Parliament must demonstrate stronger leadership by moving beyond issuing routine statements whenever challenges emerge across the continent.
Instead, he argued, the institution should take meaningful steps that respond to the expectations of African citizens and reinforce its relevance within the African Union architecture.
Touching on the Parliament’s financial needs, Annoh-Dompreh described funding as the “oxygen” that enables the institution to perform its mandate. However, he maintained that calls for increased financial support should be accompanied by greater accountability and visible outcomes.
“We cannot consistently demand more funding while failing to justify why those resources should continue to be provided,” he said.
The Minority Chief Whip also underscored the importance of parliamentary committees, describing them as the engine room of every legislature where much of the substantive work is carried out.
He called on committee chairpersons and the leadership of the Pan-African Parliament to ensure that recommendations emerging from committee work are effectively implemented rather than remaining on paper.
