Accra, May 13, GNA - Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD Agency, has said Parliamentarians could champion policies to foster regional integration in Africa.

"As law makers, Parliamentarians are key to facilitating major national, regional and continental reforms," he explained. 93Our Parliamentarians are key to championing those policies that can foster regional integration."

A statement issued by the NEPAD Agency, and copied to Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra, said Dr Mayaki made the observation in his report to the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), on the progress of the NEPAD implementation, in Midrand, South Africa.

Dr Mayaki called for the setting up of a joint PAP-NEPAD Agency Technical Committee to identify joint activities and initiatives on emerging issues of relevance to African Development.

He explained that the NEPAD Agency was making steady progress, particularly around issues of food security and infrastructure, and in addition, working closely with the Regional Economic Communities in the roll-out of programmes and projects.

"Twenty six countries have signed the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) compacts and one regional compact by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) 96 thereby highlighting the roll-out of Africa's blue print for agriculture led development," Dr Mayaki said.

"In infrastructure, the African Union Commission (AUC) and the NEPAD Agency have jointly provided technical coordination support for the take-off of the Presidential Infrastructure Initiative," he added. Dr Mayaki revealed that NEPAD continuously needed to be taken to the people and reiterated the Agency's commitment to work with PAP in framing out an enabling environment that could enhance focused, realistic and pragmatic development programmes and projects.

He pledged his willingness and commitment to work closely with the Members of the PAP in developing viable synergies to support PAP activities.

Speaking on behalf of the PAP Committee for Transport, Industry, Energy and Technology, Mr Mostefa Boudina, the Committee Chairperson, called for the fast-tracking of NEPAD programme implementation, specifically around infrastructure.

He reiterated the need for synergies between PAP and the Agency and also called for the popularisation of the NEPAD agenda amongst PAP members.

Dr Marie Rose Nguini Effa, Chairperson of the Committee on Health, commended the progress being made by the NEPAD initiative on the African Medicines Registration and Harmonisation (AMRH).

It aims to promote the harmonisation of drug regulation in order to reduce barriers to research, registration, production of and access to safe essential medicines in Africa.

The Parliamentarians acknowledged the progress being made by the NEPAD Agency and urged the Agency to focus on implementation and more specifically address issues such as youth unemployment, resource mobilisation for development and the roll-out of practical development projects.

The NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency) is the technical body of the African Union and works closely with the African Union Commission (AUC), regional economic communities, national governments, civil society and the private sector to push for programmes and projects that focus on improving the lives of the African people.

The NEPAD Agency is the leading African development expert, able to mobilise the private sector, Heads of State and African people as a force for positive change, building continental prosperity and regional integration.