12/5/2011, Midrand – Speaking on Thursday at the fourth ordinary session of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer of the NEPAD Agency expressed his willingness and commitment to work closely with the members of the PAP in developing viable synergies to support PAP activities.

"As law makers, parliamentarians are key to facilitating major national, regional and continental reforms. Our parliamentarians are key to championing those policies that can foster regional integration", said Mayaki during his report to PAP on the progress of NEPAD implementation.

In his remarks, Dr. Mayaki called for the set-up of a joint PAP-NEPAD Agency technical committee for the purposes of identifying joint activities and initiatives on emerging issues of relevance to African development.

He explained that the NEPAD Agency was making steady progress particularly around issues of food security and infrastructure. And that the Agency was working closely with the Regional Economic Communities in the roll-out of programmes and projects.
 
"Twenty six countries have signed the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) compacts and one regional compact by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) – thereby highlighting the roll-out of Africa's blue print for agriculture led development", said Dr. Mayaki. 

"In infrastructure, the African Union Commission (AUC) and the NEPAD Agency have jointly provided technical coordination support for the take-off of the Presidential Infrastructure Initiative," he added.

Speaking on behalf of the PAP Committee for Transport, Industry, Energy and Technology, Honourable Mostefa Boudina, the Committee Chairperson, called for the fast-tracking of NEPAD programme implementation specifically around infrastructure. He reiterated the need for synergies between PAP and the Agency and he also called for the popularisation of the NEPAD agenda amongst PAP members.

Honourable Marie Rose Nguini Effa, Chairperson of the Committee on Health commended the progress being made by the NEPAD initiative on the African Medicines Registration and Harmonization (AMRH) which aims to promote the harmonisation of drug regulation in order to reduce barriers to research, registration, production of and access to safe essential medicines in Africa.  

During a wide ranging discussion on Dr. Mayaki's report, the parliamentarians acknowledged the progress being made by the NEPAD Agency and they also called upon the Agency to carry on focusing on implementation and to more specifically address issues such as youth unemployment, resource mobilisation for development and the roll-out of practical development projects

In his responses to the issues raised by the parliamentarians, Dr. Mayaki revealed that NEPAD continuously needs to be taken to the people and he also reiterated the Agency’s commitment to work with PAP in framing out an enabling environment that can enhance focused, realistic and pragmatic development programmes and projects.

Click here to download the English version of the speech.

Click here to download the French version of the speech.