The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has been appointed a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) Task Force on the peaceful resolution of the war in Ukraine.
“We are confident that your leadership and experience will enhance the work and impact of the Task Force in its mission to support diplomatic efforts in seeking a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine”, the Secretary General of the IPU, Martin Chungong, stated in a letter appointing Speaker Bagbin to the Taskforce.
Taskforce
Established as an ad-hoc body in March 2022, the IPU Task Force has enabled the Union to use its good offices to encourage dialogue between parliamentarians in Ukraine and the Russian Federation to resolve the ongoing conflict.
Since its formation, the Task Force has convened no less than thirteen meetings and conducted a mission to Kyiv and Moscow in July 2022.
At a time when avenues for dialogue are scarce, this Task Force remains one of the few platforms where both Ukrainian and Russian parliamentarians continue to engage.
The IPU President, Dr Tulia Ackson, who appointed Mr Bagbin to the Task Force, cited his “… integrity, impartiality and ability to build trust with all parties.”
Mr Bagbin would be joining seven other parliamentarians on the IPU Task Force, membership of which is drawn from all six IPU geopolitical groups.
As a seasoned international peace negotiator and broker, Mr Bagbin’s inclusion positions the task force for renewed resolve to broker peace in Ukraine.
In his capacity as a member of the Task Force, the Speaker will attend in-person meetings during IPU Assemblies, participate in hearings and discussions with the Ukrainian and Russian IPU delegations, and engage in dialogue with government leaders from the feuding countries with the ultimate aim of dousing the war in Ukraine.
source: Graphic Online
