The Acting Head of Division, Committees, Research, Documentation and Library (CRDL) of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), Dr Mrs. Ndidi Abanno, has highlighted the tremendous efforts put in place by the Parliament to improve its visibility, relevance and credibility.

The Pan-African Parliament, established in 2004, has been in existence for over 20 years. Despite its longevity, it continues to face challenges related to visibility and relevance. A key priority of the Parliament is to ensure that the voices of African citizens are meaningfully incorporated into decision-making processes. Central to this effort is making PAP’s outputs more accessible and understandable to the African public, thereby strengthening its legitimacy and connection with citizens.

Dr. Mrs. Abanno made this disclosure during the Data for Governance Alliance (D4GA) Continental convening in Accra, Ghana.

The D4GA is a project to promote data-based advocacy and engagement between Pan African Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and members of the African Union’s African Governance Architecture Platform (AGP)

Some of the initiatives undertaken by the Parliament to improve its citizen engagements  and visibility  include: engaging CSOs directly in PAP processes, including dialogues, harmonization of laws, consultations, fact finding missions and briefings to promote participatory governance and inclusive deliberation; livestreaming of all PAP Sessions in the AU Languages to improve transparency and access; sharing Session themes with National Parliaments, particularly those with broadcasting platforms that can amplify reach; collaborating with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to disseminate information about PAP’s work and outcomes; maintaining a YouTube channel where Sessions proceedings are uploaded in major African languages to broaden accessibility.

While acknowledging the progress made, Dr. Mrs. Abanno, also admitted opportunities to strengthen the Parliament’s performance. She noted the need to develop systems to reduce delays in uploading and sharing parliamentary data online, improve internal coordination to ensure timely and consistent communication, expand and deepen engagement platforms, including structured citizen forums, strengthen partnerships with CSOs to amplify outreach and foster accountability, and encourage broader public dialogue around PAP’s work and impact.

She observed that these progress matters because it enhances the ability to mobilize public support and build legitimacy, strengthens credibility through evidence-based engagement and transparency, foster closer connections between PAP and African citizens, and reinforces PAP’s mandate to address issues of continental concern with public awareness and participation.

Amplifying the important role media plays in projecting and shaping narratives, the Secretary General of the African Parliamentary Press Network (APPN), Mr. Gilbert Borketey Boyefio, emphasized how media partnership with the PAP has led to the advancement of the Parliament’s visibility across Africa. He pointed out some of the initiatives undertaken by the APPN in partnership with the PAP such as: the PAP TV, the PAP APPN Media discussion series with partner media houses in Ghana, Nigeria, Lesotho and the Gambia, and the PAP delegation media briefings. 

“Through these initiatives, many Africans have become familiar with the PAP andwants to know more about the institution.

It has also encouraged PAP delegations from Member Countries to engage their local media on development at the PAP and how it affects them locally,” he disclosed.

While encouraging CSO’s and citizens to take keen interest in the work of the Pan-African Parliament, Mr. Boyefio also appealed to PAP MPs to avail themselves to be ambassadors of the PAP at the national level, and lead on the ratification and domestication of treaties and Model Laws respectively.