Fake News Threat to Parliament: Bagbin Warns
Fake news threat to Parliament is rising, and Speaker Alban Bagbin says urgent action is needed to protect official records.
Speaking in Accra at the opening of the 11th Biennial Conference of the Commonwealth Hansard Editors Association – Africa Region, he called on Hansard staff across Africa to upgrade their skills. Consequently, he urged them to adopt modern tools and protect parliamentary proceedings from digital manipulation.
Mr Bagbin warned that advanced technology makes altering leaders’ words easier than ever. Therefore, without strong safeguards, Parliament’s integrity could face serious damage. He explained that fake news can twist statements, while manipulated images and videos could misrepresent debates if reporting officers lack the right training.
“As I speak today, someone can take my picture, change my words, and match them with my mouth movements,” he said. “Anyone listening could believe that is what the Speaker said here. That is a serious threat.”
He emphasised that parliamentary language differs from everyday speech. Hence, preserving its accuracy is vital. He urged governments to invest more in the official reporting departments so Hansard reports remain accurate, timely, and relevant despite growing manipulation risks.
“Whatever we do will come to nothing without accurate records,” he told participants. Moreover, he linked weak African democracy to weak parliamentary institutions, stressing that improving Hansard capacity is essential for political stability.
The four-day Accra conference gathered Hansard editors from Commonwealth African nations to share ideas. They discussed innovation, skills development, and strategies for safeguarding the future of official parliamentary reporting in the technology age.
