The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, has called on Hansard staff across Africa to enhance their knowledge and skills to meet the evolving demands of the digital age and uphold the integrity of parliamentary records.
Speaking at the opening of the 11th Biennial Conference of the Commonwealth Hansard Editors Association – Africa Region in Accra on Monday, August 11, 2025, Mr. Bagbin warned that official parliamentary records are increasingly vulnerable to distortion due to fake news and digital manipulation.
The Hansard, a verbatim record of parliamentary proceedings, is maintained by a specialized unit within Parliament. Bagbin cautioned that without well-trained reporting officers, modern technology could be used to fabricate or alter parliamentary speeches and mislead the public.
“Today, someone could take my image, manipulate it, and make it appear as though I said something I never did—complete with accurate mouth movements and false translations,” he explained. “That is a real and serious threat.”
He emphasized that parliamentary language is unique and must be carefully preserved. Mr. Bagbin called for greater investment in the official reporting department to ensure the Hansard remains accurate, timely, and credible.
“Without accurate records, our efforts are in vain. Weak recordkeeping undermines democratic institutions—and by extension, democracy itself,” he said.
The four-day conference brings together Hansard editors from across Commonwealth African nations to explore innovation, capacity building, and the future of official parliamentary documentation.
