Chairperson builds new three year strategy for CPA as she launches Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Roadshow for young people in Cameroon with CPA Secretary-General

The new Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Executive Committee, Hon. Emilia Monjowa Lifaka, MP is building a new three year strategy for her term of office as she welcomed the CPA Secretary-General, Mr Akbar Khan to Cameroon on his first official visit since the Chairperson was elected in November 2017.

During the working visit, the CPA Chairperson, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Cameroon welcomed the Secretary-General to the Parliament of Cameroon. The CPA Secretary-General held a number of bilateral meetings including: His Excellency Philémon Yang, the Prime Minister of Cameroon; His Excellency Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, Minister Delegate in Charge of Relations with the Commonwealth; Hon. Marcel Niat Njifenji, President of the Senate. The CPA Secretary-General also met with Members of the CPA Cameroon Branch. Throughout his stay in the Cameroon, the Secretary-General was accompanied by His Majesty Chief Tabetando, President of CPDM Parliamentary Group of the Senate.

The CPA Chairperson and the CPA Secretary-General then travelled to Buea, the capital of the Southwest region of Cameroon and one of the English-speaking regions of the country. Following their arrival, the CPA delegation met with the Governor of the Southwest region before travelling to the Government Bilingual High School at Limbe to launch the CPA Roadshows for Young People in Cameroon. The school is a secondary grammar school and over 200 students from eight local government schools aged 12-18 attended the CPA Roadshow.

The CPA Secretary-General held an engaging CPA Roadshow session providing an opportunity for the young people to learn about the political values of the Commonwealth such as diversity, development and parliamentary democracy; to discuss issues of concern about the society in which they live; and to find out about the work of the CPA through their questions at the session.

The CPA Roadshows highlight the importance of encouraging youth engagement in the political process and the sharing of Commonwealth political values, especially with the 60% of the 2.4 billion population of the Commonwealth who are aged under 30. The CPA Roadshows also provide an opportunity to raise awareness of the 2018 Commonwealth Summit due to be held in the UK in April 2018 on the theme of ‘Towards a Common Future’.

The CPA Secretary-General said: “I am delighted to visit Cameroon to launch the CPA Roadshow for Young People here with the CPA Chairperson and to engage with local students on the values that unite the Commonwealth. The CPA’s public engagement work across the Commonwealth and engaging young people in the democratic process by discussing the importance of the Commonwealth are key objectives of the CPA and our visit to Cameroon has emphasised this.”

Feedback from the audience was very positive with one student remarking ‘The CPA Roadshow was a wonderful experience for me – Meeting the Secretary-General and Madam Lifaka was unforgettable. The Secretary-General talked about the values of respect, tolerance, love and equity and I have also heard about democracy, parliament and being a good citizen and to be well educated because it’s is our future.’ 

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