The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has called on Public Accounts Committees (PACs) across Africa to strengthen oversight and hold duty bearers accountable for the prudent use of public funds. This call was made at the opening of the African Organisation of Public Accounts Committee’s (AFROPAC) Sixth Annual General Meeting and Conference in Accra. The conference aims to promote good governance and sustainable development through effective oversight and accountability mechanisms.
The four-day conference, attended by parliamentarians, auditors, and governance experts from across the continent, focuses on strengthening public financial accountability and legislative oversight in Africa. The theme of the conference is “Oversight for Resilience: Strengthening Africa’s Public Accounts Committees Amid a Shifting Financial Landscape”. Mr. Bagbin emphasized that Africa is navigating turbulent economic conditions, marked by mounting public debt, high capital costs, and recurring geopolitical shocks that constrain development choices.
According to Mr. Bagbin, good governance and rigorous parliamentary oversight are critical to building resilience in Africa. He warned that public confidence in democratic institutions is undermined when public resources are misallocated, squandered, or diverted. The Speaker stressed that Public Accounts Committees bear a profound constitutional responsibility to safeguard the public purse and ensure every public resource delivers tangible benefits to citizens.
Mr. Bagbin described AFROPAC as an important platform for advancing accountability and economic sovereignty on the continent. He noted that effective scrutiny of public expenditure and implementation of audit recommendations promote discipline in public financial management and strengthen Africa’s position in advocating debt restructuring, debt cancellation, and reparative justice.
The Speaker urged African countries to strengthen the independence of Auditors-General and Audit Service institutions by placing them under parliamentary authority rather than the Executive. He also advocated for stronger professional standards in public administration, arguing that the certification and professionalization of accountants, directors, and other public sector officials would help reduce recurring financial irregularities.
Mr. Bagbin encouraged PACs to work closely with the media to publicize the outcomes of accountability processes, including recoveries of public funds, sanctions, prosecutions, and reforms arising from audit findings. He urged delegates to use the conference to exchange experiences and develop practical strategies to strengthen the independence and technical capacity of Public Accounts Committees.
The Speaker reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to supporting accountability institutions and capacity-building initiatives aimed at enhancing transparency, combating corruption, and promoting responsible stewardship of public resources across the continent. He urged delegates to remain focused on their mandate and work collectively to safeguard Africa’s shared heritage through effective oversight and accountability mechanisms.
Key points
- Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin calls on African Public Accounts Committees to strengthen oversight and hold duty bearers accountable for public funds.
