Parliament: Dorcas Affo-Toffey Highlights Key Issues from Speaker Bagbin’s recent Visit to Côte d’Ivoire 

Hon. Affo-Toffey shared insights from the delegation’s meeting with the Ghanaian diaspora in Côte d’Ivoire, describing the interaction as both enlightening and humbling. She highlighted the resilience and unity of the Ghanaian community, emphasizing their contributions to their host country while maintaining strong ties to Ghana.

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Member of Parliament for the Jomoro constituency, Hon. Dorcas Affo-Toffey, has delivered a statement on the floor of Parliament, detailing the outcomes of Speaker Alban Bagbin’s recent visit to the National Assembly of Côte d’Ivoire and his engagement with the Ghanaian community in that country.

Making a statement on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, Hon. Affo-Toffey described the visit as a significant step in strengthening parliamentary diplomacy and deepening ties between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. She commended Speaker Bagbin for his exemplary leadership and highlighted his contributions to fostering collaboration with sister legislatures, noting his re-election as President of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (COSPAL).

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The Speaker, she noted, had the privilege of addressing the National Assembly of Côte d’Ivoire, where he emphasized the importance of parliamentary diplomacy, mutual interests, and collaboration between the two nations. The delegation also engaged in an exchange of best practices in governance and policymaking with their Ivorian counterparts, reaffirming commitments to accountability, democracy, and citizen welfare.

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Hon. Affo-Toffey shared insights from the delegation’s meeting with the Ghanaian diaspora in Côte d’Ivoire, describing the interaction as both enlightening and humbling. She highlighted the resilience and unity of the Ghanaian community, emphasizing their contributions to their host country while maintaining strong ties to Ghana.

Key Concerns Raised by the Ghanaian Community

The MP brought attention to pressing issues raised by Ghanaians living in Côte d’Ivoire:

1. Voting Rights and ROPAL Implementation:
The Ghanaian community called for the implementation of the Representation of the People’s Amendment Law (ROPAL), passed in 2006, to enable them to participate in Ghanaian elections from abroad.

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2. High Passport Fees and Identification Documents:
Concerns were raised about the cost of renewing and replacing Ghanaian passports, which currently stand at 80,000 CFA (approximately GHS 1,900) for renewal and 110,000 CFA (GHS 2,600) for replacement. The community urged Parliament to advocate for fee reductions and streamlined processes for acquiring passports, consular cards, and ECOWAS identity cards.

3. Human Trafficking Along Border Areas:
Hon. Affo-Toffey highlighted alarming reports of human trafficking at the Ghana-Côte d’Ivoire border, particularly a scheme referred to as “Q-Net,” where individuals are lured with false promises of traveling to Europe but end up in exploitative situations. She urged Parliament to collaborate with authorities in Côte d’Ivoire to address this issue.

Call for Support to Diaspora Communities

Hon. Affo-Toffey emphasized the critical role of Ghana’s diaspora in national development, calling on Parliament to prioritize policies that address their needs. She praised the Speaker’s engagement as a vital step toward maintaining strong connections with citizens abroad and fostering collaboration between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

She urged her colleagues in Parliament to advocate for the welfare and dignity of Ghanaians living abroad, noting that the outcomes of such engagements could serve as a foundation for shaping policies that benefit the diaspora and strengthen bilateral ties.

“Let us continue to build on this momentum to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our two nations,” she said.

By Jeorge Wilson Kingson || ghananewsonline.com

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