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By Rachel Quartey Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, has called on African parliaments to take a leading role in combating corruption, which he described as a “cancerous, systemic and monstrous evil” threatening the continent’s progress.Delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 9th Biennial General Meeting of the African Parliamentarians’ Network Against Corruption (APNAC) in Accra, the Speaker said corruption in Africa has evolved into a sophisticated, borderless network tied to organized crime, cyber fraud, and illicit financial flows.Mr. Bagbin cautioned that the monetization of politics and loss of societal values have worsened corruption across Africa, noting that some presidential candidates spend up to $100 million on campaigns, while parliamentary hopefuls spend hundreds of thousands — investments that drive leaders to abuse power once elected.He emphasized that corruption undermines essential public services, erodes trust in leadership, and fuels political instability across the continent. “As monies are stolen and stashed away in foreign banks, women wallow in drudgery, children learn under trees, and the poor live short and brutish lives,” he lamented.The Speaker urged African parliaments to “re-arm themselves and launch a more ferocious assault” on corruption by strengthening oversight, enforcing accountability, and ensuring transparency in public finance management. He further called for stronger cooperation between parliaments, anti-corruption agencies, and civil society to tackle the problem holistically. Highlighting Ghana’s own measures, Mr. Bagbin outlined several reforms within Parliament, including the establishment of the Ethics and Standards Committee, the Office of the Commissioner of Standards, a Corruption Risk Management Plan, and an Anti-Corruption Department under the Legal and Governance Services Division. He also cited the creation of the Citizens’ Bureau and Petitions Committee to enhance civic participation and transparency.Mr. Bagbin described the ongoing APNAC meeting — themed “Repositioning APNAC in the Fight Against Corruption: Overcoming Current and Emerging Challenges” — as a turning point for the continent’s integrity movement. He urged participants to use the platform to “reimagine and reposition APNAC as a stronger, bolder, and more effective force against corruption.”“The voters elected us to represent Africa. If we fail, corruption will write the death tribute to Africa’s democracy,” he warned. “But if we rise to this moment, we can light a path of integrity for generations to come.” The President of APNAC and Speaker of the National Assembly of Benin, Rt. Hon. Louis G. Vlavonou, urged African legislators to remain steadfast in the fight against corruption and to promote integrity in governance. Other officials at the opening of the meeting called for a non-partisan approach to the fight against corruption.The conference, held from November 6 to 9, 2025, at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, brought together parliamentarians, anti-corruption experts, civil society leaders, and stakeholders from across Africa to discuss strategies for combating corruption and promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance. Source link
