The 11th Biennial Commonwealth Hansard Editors Association – Africa Region Conference opened in Accra on August 11, 2025, with a strong message from the Office of Chamber Reporting at Parliament of Ghana.
In an opening address, the Editor of Debates of Ghana’s Parliament Alhaji Adam Iddrisu welcomed delegates from 63 participants across Africa, and lauded the leadership of the Rt Hon Speaker and the Clerk to the Parliament for hosting the event.
The theme, “Charting the Future of Hansard: Embracing Technology and Innovation for Enhanced Parliamentary Reporting,” highlights a commitment to balancing cutting-edge tools with core editorial standards.
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 include Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Prof Seidu Mahama Alidu, Dr Rasheed Draman, and Sammy Obeng, 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 .
The Editor emphasized that the conference is a platform for sharing best practices, strengthening professional networks, and advancing parliamentary transparency through improved reporting. Delegates expressed optimism about forging a forward-looking roadmap for Hansard reporting that serves democracy across the region. Akwaaba remains the rallying call as proceedings begin.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Kwabena Nyarko Abronoma
