‘African Parliaments must invest in professional Hansard Reporting for digital future’
By Eugene Davis
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has called on governments and parliaments across Africa to invest in the growth of professional Hansard reporters, equipping them not only with modern tools but also with the leadership skills necessary to thrive in an evolving digital era.
Delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 11th Biennial Commonwealth Hansard Editors Association – Africa Region (CHEA-AR) Conference in Accra, 2025, the Speaker stressed that the Hansard Department plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the accuracy, integrity, and historical record of parliamentary proceedings.
He underscored that providing the department with adequate resources, professional recognition, and institutional respect would ensure its relevance in the age of digital transformation.
“We are at a crucial moment in the evolution of parliamentary reporting,” he said. “With the advent of new media, the spread of fake news, disinformation, and misinformation remain constant threats. Hansard professionals must therefore be responsive, act swiftly, and report with the highest standards of accuracy.”
Mr. Bagbin also advocated for the integration of local languages into Hansard reporting to deepen public understanding and participation.
“Communication—what you tell people to enable them to make informed decisions—is critical. All developed nations have embraced their native languages in teaching and governance, accelerating their progress. Africa must do the same.”
Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, highlighted the transformative role of technology, noting that the conference comes at an opportune moment when digital tools can make parliamentary work more accessible and relevant. He urged the Hansard Department to connect with young people through social media platforms, fostering greater appreciation for parliamentary processes among the next generation.
Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, praised Hansard reporters as “archivists of democracy, guardians of legislative integrity, and defenders of institutional memory.” He described the conference theme—Charting the Future of Hansard: Embracing Innovation for Enhanced Parliamentary Reporting in Africa—as both timely and urgent.
“We are at the crossroads of tradition and transformation. Digitalisation must not be viewed as a luxury; it is a democratic imperative.”
The CHEA-AR is a professional body that brings together Hansard editors from across the Commonwealth Africa region to share best practices, build capacity, and strengthen networks in parliamentary reporting. Its core objectives include enhancing the quality of parliamentary documentation, promoting technological innovation, and fostering collaboration among member states.
This year’s conference is expected to generate actionable strategies for modernising Hansard services while safeguarding the accuracy and impartiality that underpin democratic governance.
