Member of Parliament for Madina and human rights lawyer, Francis-Xavier Sosu, has been appointed as Executive Member and Vice Chairman of the Trade and Investment Committee of the Africa Bar Association (AFBA).

The Member of Parliament who doubles as Deputy Ranking Member of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament was recognized for his role as a leading Human Rights and Public Interest Lawyer in Ghana for over 10 years as well as his expertise in Sociology, Economics, Law, Security and Intelligence.

This background, the ABFA believes, can support and advance the work of the said Committee as AFBA seeks to lead the way for Economic Cooperation and Integration of Africa using AfCFTA to reach Africa’s Development Agenda 2063.

The Madina MP who was recently nominated for the Timothy Bowles African Human Rights Leadership Award will be required to work with the Committee to promote the ideals of Africa Regional Economic integration for and on behalf of Africa Bar Association.

Over the years, Francis-Xavier Sosu has advocated both in and out of court for the rights of many in the Ghanaian society especially the poor and less privileged, capitalising on the message of the gospel as a Christian leader to uphold the prerogative of persons whose rights are trampled upon and ensuring that they seek redress and recompense.

Since becoming MP, Francis-Xavier Sosu (Esq) has introduced Bills to provide compensation for wrongful arrest and detention, substitute the death penalty for life imprisonment, prohibit the practice by any person as a witch doctor, and amend the Legal Professions Act 1960 (Act 32) to review legal education and restructure the functions of the General Legal Council (GLC).

As Executive Member of the AFBA and Vice Chairman of the Trade and Investment Committee, Francis-Xavier Sosu is expected to deputize to the Chairman and in his absence head the Committee; work with the Chairman and other Committee members for the overall growth and development of the Committee in particular and AFBA in general.

He is also tasked to develop an overall framework for the development of Trade, Investment and deepening Business Immigration in the Continent; and use the opportunities provided by AFCTA to deepen cross-border trade in goods and services within the Continent, among others.

The African Bar Association (AFBA) was formed in 1971 as a Professional body uniting individual lawyers and national legal associations in Africa, with the goal of being a federation of national legal associations, corporate and unincorporated legal entities, and individual lawyers.

The Association seeks amongst other objectives to foster the exchange of opinions and experiences among members, formulation of policies that would better reposition the continent’s socio-economic and political development and advancement with the law as the bedrock for these developments, and lastly breaking new legal frontiers.

The Association brings together the five African sub-regional Lawyers, their respective National Associations spread over the AFBA continent.

The AFBA organizational structure consists of a 64-member Governing Council called the African Bar Council and the Executive Council. These two arms form the highest decision-making organs of the Association.

Mr Sosu is currently a member of the Ghana Bar Association, Africa Bar Association, International Association of Peoples Lawyers, Lawyers Without Borders, Canada, Criminal Justice Reforms Association, Lawyers In search of Democracy, and 2^nd Vice President of the United Nations Association of Ghana.