Parliamentary legal counsel from across Africa have reaffirmed their commitment to promoting ethics, integrity and accountability in legislative governance at the opening of the 8th African Colloquium of Legal Counsel to Parliaments in Accra.
The colloquium, held under the theme, “Ethics, Integrity and Accountability,” brought together parliamentary legal experts, counsel and policy specialists from across the continent to share experiences, exchange best practices and explore ways of strengthening legislative institutions.
Opening the event on behalf of the Speaker of Parliament, the Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahuma Djietror, called on delegates to work towards developing a common Pan-African ethical framework that respects the constitutional traditions of individual countries while promoting transparency, legislative quality and public confidence in democratic institutions.
He stressed the need for African parliaments to uphold the highest ethical standards to strengthen accountability and improve public trust in governance.
The Deputy Clerk in charge of Legislative Management Services (LMS) and Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, Mr. Camillo Pwamang, expressed optimism that the gathering would deepen professional collaboration and enhance the capacity of parliamentary legal counsel across the continent.
According to him, the colloquium provides a valuable platform for strengthening unity among legal practitioners serving African legislatures and fostering the exchange of innovative legal and parliamentary practices.
Addressing participants, the Majority Leader, Hon. James Agalga, called for reforms to electoral regulations, stronger constitutional safeguards and the establishment of credible peer-review mechanisms within democratic institutions.
He underscored the importance of integrity, independent legal advice and unwavering commitment to the aspirations and welfare of the African people.
For his part, the Minority Leader, Hon. Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin, highlighted the critical role of independent parliamentary legal offices in safeguarding constitutional governance and democratic fairness.
He noted that impartial legal counsel remains essential for ensuring effective legislative oversight and preserving the integrity of parliamentary processes.
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, urged delegates to strengthen professional standards and mentorship within parliamentary legal services across Africa.
He also called for the development of safeguards to govern the use of artificial intelligence in legislative work, stressing that human oversight, accountability and professional judgment must remain central to decision-making processes.
The colloquium is expected to foster stronger cooperation among parliamentary legal offices while advancing discussions on ethical leadership, accountability and institutional resilience in Africa’s democratic governance systems.