Africa-Press – Ghana. The 11th biennial Conference of the Commonwealth Hansard Editors Association, Africa Region (CHEA-AR) opened in Accra with a call to provide training and professional development opportunities for Hansard editors to build their digital skills and effectively utilize new tools.
The Hansard department in Parliament is responsible for producing a verbatim report of debates in Parliament.
This report is considered “the institutional conscience of Parliament” and serves as an official record of parliamentary proceedings.
Delivering his keynote address at the opening ceremony in Accra on Monday, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, said an investment in robust digital infrastructure, including internet connectivity, data centers, and cybersecurity measures, was crucial for supporting parliamentary operations.
He said, “Implementing robust cybersecurity measures is essential for protecting parliamentary systems and data.”
As a result, Mr Bagbin called for Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), which could foster collaboration between governments, private sectors, and development partners to facilitate digital transformation and innovation in parliamentary reporting.
“Embracing innovation and technology in parliamentary reporting is crucial for enhancing transparency, accountability, and efficiency.
“By adopting these strategies and collaborating with each other, African countries can work towards bridging the digital divide and ensuring that all citizens benefit from digital advancements,” the Speaker said.
The five-day CHEA-AR Conference hosted by the Parliament of Ghana after 2014 has the aim of sharing knowledge, ideas, and best practices in enhancing parliamentary reporting, promoting transparency, and improving accountability among CHEA-AR members.
It had participants coming from Ghana, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Nigeria and Malawi.
The others were; South Africa, Somalia, Uganda, Zambia, and Sierra Leone.
Themed “Charting the Future of Hansard: Embracing Innovation and Technology for Enhanced Parliamentary Reporting in Africa,” key discussions at the conference will explore AI-assisted transcription, digital publishing, social media integration, and improved indexing of the Bound Volume of Hansards, alongside ongoing ethics and neutrality in reporting.
Notable presenters will include Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, a National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Klottey-Korle; Professor Seidu Mahama Alidu, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and a Research Fellow at the Centre for Asian Studies, University of Ghana; Dr Rasheed Draman, Executive Director of the African Center for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) and Mr Sammy Obeng, Executive Director, Parliamentary Network Africa; with topics ranging from accessibility of Hansard to CSOs’ reliance on parliamentary records.
Seventeen papers are slated, reflecting a diverse agenda that bridges tradition and tech-driven.
In his opening remarks, Alhaji Adam Iddrisu, the Editor of Debate, Hansard Office, Parliament of Ghana, welcomed the 63 delegates across Africa, where he lauded the Speaker and the Clerk to Parliament for hosting the event.
He said the theme highlighted a commitment to balancing cutting-edge tools with core editorial standards.
Alhaji Iddrisu emphasized that the conference was a platform for sharing best practices, strengthening professional networks, and advancing parliamentary transparency through improved reporting.
Mr Steve Katawa Banda, President of CHEA-AR, and also the Head of Hansard Department, Malawi, Parliament, said the conference marked an important milestone in promoting collaboration and cooperation among African parliaments.
“By harnessing the power of innovation and technology, African parliaments can enhance parliamentary reporting, promote transparency, and improve accountability,” he said.
“May God bless us all, and may our efforts contribute to a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come,” he added.
Mr Ebenezer Ahumah Djieteor, the Clerk to Ghana’s Parliament, urged the delegates to let the conference be a platform for meaningful discussions, knowledge sharing, and collaboration.
“I’m confident that the diverse perspectives and expertise represented here will foster innovation and drive progress,” he said.
Mr Mahama Ayariga, the Majority Leader, emphasised the significance of parliamentary records, specifically the Hansard, in capturing the essence of national events, accurate documentation and preservation of records for future generations.
Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, highlighted the crucial role of parliamentary records, specifically the Hansard in preserving, democracy, transparency and accountability, accuracy, integrity, and authenticity in documenting legislative process.
Some delegates who spoke to the Ghana News Agency, Accra, expressed optimism about forging a forward-looking roadmap for Hansard reporting that served democracy across the region.
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