Source: The Reporter Newspaper
Hon. Agho Oliver Bamenju, MP for Bafut-Tubah Constituency in the North West Region of Cameroon has taken to task the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund on the plight of deteriorating African trade with the rest of the world.
He made Cameroon's voice as well as that of Africa heard during the 2023 Global Parliamentary Forum that recently held in Washington DC from April 10 through April 11, 2023.
The young Cameroonian Member of Parliament was one of the privileged 200 MPs selected worldwide to attend the 2023 Global Paliamentary Forum organized by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and IMF in Washington DC.
Hon Agho Oliver sounded Africa's voice during the forum which is the first in-person since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Hon Agho Oliver's question was one of those that caught the attention of the president of the World Bank Group.
The young Cameroonian MP argued insisted that if trade issues between Aftica and she entire world are properly fixed, most Africans will benefit. He used the example of his constituency that is near Bamenda as an example to benefit enormously if trade was fluid between Cameroon and Nigeria through the Ekok road.
Hon. Agho Oliver during the exclusive Parliamentary Townhall with World Bank President, David Malpass and IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva wanted to know from the two giant Bretton Woods institutions what they were doing concretely to help the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, given that presently intra-African trade stands at meagre 18%?
Hon Agho Oliver's worries could be easily understood by Cameroonians given that Cameroon is one of the first six African countries that have been selected to lead the trial phase of the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA.
It is worthy to note here that the African Continental Free Trade Area seeks to ensure the unrestricted movement of goods and services in the continent.
Hon. Agho Oliver considered by many as a very proactive Member of Parliament has never missed any opportunity to bargain for his constituents, his country and the African continent whenever he attends an International confab.
The Washington DC meeting permitted him to join other legislators from around the world and leadership from the World Bank and IMF to brainstorm and chart news ways to tackle crucial development challenges facing the world. Discussions during the forum were pivoted on the theme “Tough Challenges, Tougher Choices.”
Greater attention was placed on the multiple crisis facing the earth and humanity, including climate change, insecurity, governance, accountability, growth, debt, gender and cross-border migration.
Hon Agho during his stay in Washington DC also attended the Global Young MP Initiative opened only to parliamentarians aged 40 and under to explore innovative approaches to environmental and social policies to foster sustainable societies
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.