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“Take urgent steps to address Africa’s digital divide” – Speaker of Parliament urges African parliaments
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has urged African parliaments to take urgent steps to address the digital divide between countries and regions, citing the technological gap between the parliaments of Rwanda and Ghana as an example.
He indicated that the uneven access to modern technology and digital tools across the continent was affecting the efficiency of parliamentary work and the ability to share information seamlessly.
He stressed that bridging the gap would not only improve parliamentary reporting but also enhance democratic governance and accountability.
Mr Bagbin further noted that innovation in parliamentary processes was no longer optional but essential in a world that is fast embracing technology.
He said closing the technological gap would require political will, resource allocation, and collaboration among African countries.
He made the call at the opening of the 11th Biennial Conference of the Commonwealth Hansard Editors Association Africa Region currently underway in Accra.
The five-day conference, slated for August 11 to 15, 2025, has brought together parliamentary Hansard editors from across the continent to share experiences, build capacity, and strengthen professional networks within the Commonwealth.
The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin, commended the organisers for creating a platform that fosters cooperation among African parliaments.
He said enhancing the capacity of Hansard editors was critical to preserving the integrity of parliamentary records and ensuring public access to debates.
He urged African governments to invest more in training and technology for parliamentary staff, adding that this would help bridge the knowledge and skills gap in the production of parliamentary records.
Mr Afenyo Markin called for greater collaboration between majority and minority sides in parliament, stressing that unity in preserving accurate records of proceedings was vital for democracy and historical accountability.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President has hosted a delegation of African diaspora women who are in Ghana ahead of a planned Presidential Conferment of Citizenship ceremony.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, explained in a Facebook post that the visit was a gesture of appreciation by the delegation to the Government of Ghana for its continued efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
He indicated that the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, will officially grant Ghanaian citizenship to members of the delegation as part of the country’s broader engagement with the African diaspora.
The delegation was led by Erica Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora Africa Forum.
According to Mr Okyere Darko, her years of advocacy have played an important role in strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent living abroad.
He noted that the group’s journey towards citizenship represents not only a legal process but also a cultural and spiritual return to their roots.
Also present at the meeting was Natalie Jackson, an attorney who is also expected to receive Ghanaian citizenship during the ceremony. She works closely with renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Mr Okyere Darko emphasised that Ghana remains committed to strengthening relationships with the African diaspora and promoting unity, identity, and shared heritage among people of African descent worldwide.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana has signed a debt restructuring agreement with the Kingdom of Belgium as part of efforts to restore the country’s economic stability after the financial crisis that hit the nation in 2022 and 2023.
The Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, today disclosed that he signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Ghana.
He explained that Ghana experienced a very difficult period during the crisis, which forced the government at the time to declare a debt default.
However, he indicated that the country is now recovering and witnessing a significant economic turnaround.
According to him, stronger systems are also being put in place to ensure that Ghana does not return to such a situation again.
Dr Forson noted that the agreement with Belgium is the eighth deal Ghana has concluded with countries under the Official Creditor Committee as part of its external debt restructuring programme.
He expressed appreciation to the Government of Belgium for its support and partnership with Ghana during the process.
The Finance Minister thanked Carole van Eyll, Ambassador of Belgium to Ghana, for her role in strengthening relations between the two countries.
The agreement forms part of Ghana’s broader effort to restructure its external debts and stabilise the economy following the crisis.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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