Happy New Year from the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Secretariat. 2023 was a very busy year for the CPA, culminating in December with our online conference on the Fourth Industrial Revolution. And I am delighted that this month, January 2024, we're launching our new Parliamentary Handbook on Artificial Intelligence, as part of our work on technology and innovation. This will be a busy and important year for the Commonwealth and indeed for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

This workshop session focused on the significance of the Commonwealth Latimer House Principles and examined strategies to strengthen the relationship among the three branches of government. It also highlighted best practices for embedding these Principles in Commonwealth Parliaments. For democracy to thrive, the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary must operate within their constitutional mandates. The Legislature makes laws, the Executive implements and the Judiciary, which is the final arbiter of a state, exercises the powers of adjudication and interpretation.

The Youth Roundtable Session explored the opportunities and challenges that the Commonwealth faces in respect to international security and peacebuilding. It featured delegates from CPA Branches and representatives from a cross-section of Ghanaian youth, including Youth Parliaments, students and student leaders.

During the 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) in Ghana, Commonwealth Parliamentarians attended the 66th CPA General Assembly on 5 October 2023. The CPA General Assembly was presided over by the CPA President (2022-2023), Rt Hon. Alban Bagbin, MP, Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana and was attended by Members from 102 CPA Branches. The CPA General Assembly, the Association’s supreme authority, is constituted by delegates to the annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.

The Prime Minister of Samoa, Hon. Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, and the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, have announced that the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will be held in Apia, Samoa, beginning on 21 October 2024. CHOGM – customarily held every two years – is the Commonwealth’s primary political meeting.

The President of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo has agreed to become the Vice-Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association for 2023, ahead of the 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference due to be hosted by the Parliament of Ghana and CPA Ghana Branch from 30 September to 6 October 2023 in Accra, Ghana. Since 1989, the Vice-Patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has traditionally been the Head of State or Government of the CPA Branch hosting the forthcoming annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.

The new CPA Vice-President, Hon. Ben Franklin, MLC, President of the Legislative Council of New South Wales, visited the Headquarters of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in London where he met with the CPA Chairperson, Hon. Ian Liddell-Grainger, MP, the CPA Secretary-General, Stephen Twigg and the CPA Deputy Secretary-General, Jarvis Matiya

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Executive Committee have met for their Mid-Year Meeting in Gibraltar to discuss key governance issues and planning for the year ahead.

The New Zealand Parliament have hosted the Australasian and Pacific Hansard Editors Association Conference, where Hansard Editors from the CPA Australia Region – Australia Federal Parliament and the Australian State Parliaments