Ghana’s former President and African Union High Representative for Somalia, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings has called on African Parliaments to defend and pursue the aims and aspirations of the electorate. He called on “MPs to move away from the lethargy of hear hear to the action of serving as the beacon of the masses – the weapon of progress and the tonic that consolidates democracy on our continent.” He said if Parliaments were more assertive, the political unrests in Northern Africa could have been prevented. “These could have been prevented if our parliaments were more assertive and ready to invoke impeachment clauses where leaders were subverting the national interest through the violation of human dignity, corruption and a blatant disregard for the letter of the law.” In an address delivered to the Pan-African Parliament in Johannesburg on Monday, the African Union High Representative said: “If as Parliamentarians we fall for either the allure of office, the whims of a political party or the control of the executive, how can we effectively scrutinize government activity?” President Rawlings is the Guest of Honour at the Pan-African Parliament Speakers Conference taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa. Speakers from regional and national parliaments are participating in the two-day event. He told the gathering that Parliament has a huge role in creating political security and stability and called on the Pan-African Parliament to serve as a check and balance on the quality of legislative processes offered by Parliaments across the continent. The former Ghanaian President called on African governments to do more to consolidate the peace and security in Somalia. He said: “Africa has long suffered the humiliation of allowing others from elsewhere to intervene in its internal conflicts. We come from Africa, understand the socio-economic situations within most of our countries better and therefore have a better capacity to seek lasting solutions to these problems. It is about time we come together truly as one continent to head where necessary to defy the influence of external parties by showing friendship when our brothers are in need.” Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings accompanied President Rawlings.