Director of Public Affairs of the Parliament of Ghana, Kate Addo, says she will fully support activities of the newly formed African Parliamentary Press Network (APPN) because its objectives are for a good cause. She gave the assurance in a meeting with elected national executive officers of the Ghana Caucus of Network when they called on her in her office last Monday, March 29, 2021.
The visit was to officially introduce the leadership of the Network in Ghana following a successful election held recently. The national Executive team is headed by the Managing Editor of parliamentnews360.com – Clement Akoloh with the Editor of ghananewsonline.com.gh – Jeorge Wilson Kingson and Madam Sheila Naana Frimpomaa of Wuntumi FM serving as General Secretary and Organizing Secretary respectively. The delegation was accompanied by Gilbert Boyefio of PNAfrica who is also the Coordinator of APPN.
In congratulating the new executives, Kate Addo urged them to use their new offices positively to bring honor to their country Ghana while complimenting the work of Ghana’s Parliament at the continental level.
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She lauded the initiative of the APPN as being spearheaded by the PNAfrica which is a parliamentary monitoring organization. The APPN consists of journalists and Parliamentary reporters across 15 African countries.
Madam Kate Addo said the new Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, the Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, was very receptive to the activities of the media and views shared by Civil Society Organizations, and therefore the move is a very welcomed initiative to the Parliament.
Clement Akoloh, in a remark said the APPN Ghana Caucus is looking forward to a collaborative working relationship with the Parliament of Ghana in the interest of parliamentary democracy in Africa. On his part, Gilbert Boyefio outlined some of the objectives of the network to include, ensuring to the adherence of the principles of open Parliament; training Parliamentary journalists to meet international standards; and giving visibility to the Pan African Parliament and the ECOWAS Parliament.
The Regulatory Framework governing the activities of the network requires that aside the three elected Executives, two other people are to be appointed as Honorary members to complete the Executive team.
The Public Affairs Department which acts as a liaison between the media and the institution of Parliament, is required to nominate a member to represent the interest of the national Parliament. Nana Agyeman Birinkorang, an Assistant Public Affairs Officer of Ghana’s parliament has thus been nominated to join the the Executive Committee of the APPN Ghana Caucus.
The Dean of the national Parliamentary Press Corps or Gallery will add up for the full compliments of the team.
Source: ghananewsonline.com.gh