A high-powered parliamentary delegation from Ghana under the auspices of the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin is participating in the ongoing 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) being held in Bridgetown, Barbados.
The week-long conference, being hosted by the Parliament of Barbados and the CPA Barbados Branch, commenced on Sunday, October 5, and brings together over 500 Speakers, Presiding Officers, Parliamentarians, parliamentary staff, and decision-makers from across the Commonwealth. It is being held under the theme “The Commonwealth: A Global Partner.”
Participants are deliberating on a wide range of topical issues, including strengthening parliaments to support democracy, leveraging technology and artificial intelligence to transform parliamentary work, examining the impact of climate change on global health, and building trust in legislatures.
The conference is hosted by the CPA President (2024–2025), Senator Hon. Reginald Farley, JP, President of the Senate of Barbados; Hon. Arthur Holder, MHA, SC, Speaker of the House of Assembly of Barbados; and the Prime Minister of Barbados, Hon. Mia Mottley, SC, MP.
Speaking on the significance of the gathering, the CPA Secretary-General noted that the annual CPC provides a unique platform for MPs and key stakeholders to share experiences, exchange best practices, and foster collaboration across the Commonwealth.
“This CPA Conference offers the opportunity to bring together MPs and key stakeholders to share and exchange ideas and best practices, reinforcing the fact that we live in an interconnected world and have a shared responsibility to address our common challenges,” the Secretary-General noted.
Beyond the main sessions, the conference also features several side events, including:
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The 41st CPA Small Branches Conference;
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The 9th Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Conference;
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Meetings of the Commonwealth Parliamentarians with Disabilities (CPwD) network;
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The 2025 CPA General Assembly and Executive Committee meetings; and
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The 59th Society of Clerks-at-the-Table (SOCATT) meetings.
Elections will be held for key CPA leadership positions, including Chairpersons of the CWP and CPwD networks, the CPA Treasurer, and the CPA Vice-Chairperson. The 3rd Lifaka Lecture and the presentation of the 2025 Commonwealth Parliamentarian of the Year Awards will also take place during the conference.
Speaker Bagbin previously led Ghana’s Parliament to host the 66th CPC in Accra two years ago successfully. The 68th edition marks the second time Barbados is hosting the prestigious event — the first being the 35th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in 1989.
