The Parliament of Rwanda’s Chamber of Deputies and the Parliament of Ghana on Wednesday, July 20, reached a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral parliamentary cooperation, which the signatories said is expected to deepen their relations.

It was signed in Kigali by Speaker Donatille Mukabalisa on the side of Rwanda, and Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin on the side of Ghana.

Both Speakers said that Rwanda and Ghana have been enjoying very good relations, however, they said they wanted to further such relations by signing the MoU.

Speakers Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin of Ghana (left), and Donatille Mukabalisa of Rwanda sign the bilateral parliamentary cooperation agreement in Kigali, on Wednesday July 20. Photo: Courtesy.

Going forward, Mukabalisa said, they agreed they should maintain regular exchanges of experiences with the aim to see how best they can deliver to the citizens they represent.

"It is in this spirit we signed the memorandum of understanding between the parliament of Ghana and the Chamber of Deputies of Rwanda, which constitutes a formal framework through which we shall channel our cooperation,” she said.

Under the agreement, the parties shall promote inter-parliamentary dialogue and contribute to enhancing friendly bilateral relations and ties between the peoples of Rwanda and Ghana.

To achieve this, they shall undertake initiatives that foster inter-parliamentary cooperation in legislative and technical matters in thematic areas under their respective mandates.

Also, the parties shall ensure that the actions of mutual cooperation are carried out through the structural frameworks of their respective legislative and administrative organs, including friendship groups.

"The areas to be covered under the agreement include, but not limited to, the initiation of capacity building programmes for both parties, promoting our mutual interests during different meetings of regional and international multilateral parliamentary bodies,” Mukabalisa said.

The parliamentary staff capacity building programmes could include attachments, exchange visits, conferences, forums, training seminars and other international events.

"The most important aspect of their cooperation is how we learn and involve in the best practices from each other, how we could try to implement them, how we could strengthen our relationships, and how we could together lead the efforts to build the Africa we want,” Bagbin said.

He indicated that the continent should look for ways to utilise its wealth (natural resources) in order to turn around the situation where it has dependency on foreign aid.

"Covid-19 presented as an opportunity – it was not only a challenge – great opportunities for us to have looked within Africa, within ourselves, invest in ourselves, and be able to prepare for the future,” he said.

Also, he said, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could serve as a wakeup call for the continent to reduce dependency on foreign commodity supplies such as wheat from Ukraine or Russia.

"It’s another opportunity for us to invest in Africa,” he said.