The Clerk of the Sierra Leone Parliament, Karmoh K. Conteh, has attended the Annual Executive Committee Meeting of the Association of Secretaries-General of African Parliaments (ASGAP) held in Rabat, Morocco.
Mr. Conteh, who also serves as the First Chairperson of ASGAP, participated in the meeting held under the theme “Strengthening the ASGAP: Statutes and Strategic Action Plan.” The meeting focused on reviewing the Association’s Constitution and refining a draft Strategic Action Plan aimed at strengthening and modernising ASGAP.
Prior to the meeting, the First Chairperson granted an interview to Moroccan National Television, during which he expressed appreciation to the ASGAP Chairperson, Najib El Khadi, for the warm hospitality extended to delegates.
During deliberations, Mr. Conteh made several observations on the proposed constitutional review, stressing the need for clear definitions of “National Parliament” and “Regional Parliament.” He also called for the replacement of the word “may” with “shall” in Article 19.1 to ensure that the Pan-African Parliament provides material and financial support to ASGAP. In addition, he sought clarification on whether proposed membership subscriptions would be paid directly to ASGAP or through the Pan-African Parliament.
On the Strategic Action Plan, the Clerk of Parliament commended the ASGAP Legal Officer for producing a well-structured document but emphasised the importance of establishing a permanent and dedicated Secretariat for the Association. He also raised questions on the digitalisation agenda, including whether ASGAP would operate a separate website from that of the Pan-African Parliament.
Mr. Conteh further supported calls for extended meeting durations, noting that one day was insufficient for comprehensive deliberations on key issues affecting the Association.
The meeting was aimed at enhancing ASGAP’s effectiveness and promoting stronger cooperation among African parliaments. Mr. Conteh’s participation highlights Sierra Leone’s commitment to regional parliamentary collaboration and the strengthening of ASGAP’s role in promoting democratic governance across the continent.
