The Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey Constituency, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has underscored the importance of accurate parliamentary records in safeguarding reputations and preserving history, urging Hansard departments across the Commonwealth to embrace digital platforms for wider accessibility.
Speaking at the 11th Biennial Conference of the Commonwealth Hansard Editors Association at the Alisa Hotel in Accra on Monday, August 11, Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings stressed that in an era where information spreads rapidly, reputations built over a lifetime can be destroyed within seconds through misquoting and misrepresentation.
“With the speed at which information is disseminated, a whole reputation built over a lifetime can be destroyed in seconds, If you don’t have the information at your fingertips to counter that, you’ve lost the media war,” she said.
She commended the meticulous work of Hansard departments in documenting parliamentary proceedings, noting that such records serve as academic archives and authoritative references for future generations.
She likened their importance to evidence in court, which requires proof beyond hearsay or eyewitness accounts.
Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings called on the Hansard department to take advantage of social media to promote its work, making records widely and freely available to the public.
She argued that easier online access to parliamentary debates from across the Commonwealth would break down closed-off archives and engage younger audiences, who may not spend time in physical archives.
“The best way of keeping information safe is making it widely and freely available, We must make these records interesting, chunk them into accessible bits, and ensure they are not so overwhelming in volume that people cannot make use of the information,” she emphasized.
She also encouraged peer-to-peer exchanges among participants at the conference, highlighting the value of sharing lessons and best practices to strengthen legislative institutions globally.
By: Nana Antwi Boasiako
