Ensuring Regional Development : Four Main Thematic Areas Scrutinised

Speakers and Presiding Officers from African Commonwealth countries are meeting in Yaounde under clearly defined themes. There are four fundamental themes; Securing public trust: the role of parliaments in strengthening openness, transparency and accountability; the role of African Parliaments in the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA); addressing the challenge of food security in Africa by promoting investments in agriculture; and the devastating impacts of climate change: a call for more parliamentary interventions. As a result, various committee meetings have reflections formed around these topics. Experiences and strides are shared based on the particularities of countries and solutions sought for the general wellbeing of everyone. As the respective law-making institutions, these legislators will come up with a blue print document that will be used as a guiding principle to accelerate inclusive and equitable development. 
As concerns addressing the challenge of food security, the government of Cameroon has some mechanisms put in place, as presented at the conference. This includes, amongst others the putting in place of an interministerial committee which constantly reflects on strategies to improve agricultural production and fighting malnutrition. Partnerships are also being carried out with other States and international organisations on mechanised agriculture. Large-scale farming is equally being encouraged to boost the production of food crops like cassava, maize, onions, plantains, rice, cocoyams and others. Realising set objectives is further made complicated given the d...