The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has been elected President of the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC) at the organisation’s 9th Biennial General Meeting held in Accra last week.

Mr. Bagbin accepted the continental role and pledged to promote integrity in public life and support Africa’s collective fight against corruption.

The election comes a few weeks after the Speaker was appointed to the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) Task Force on the peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, joining seven other parliamentarians from around the world.

In his acceptance remarks, Mr. Bagbin commended the outgoing President and Board Members of APNAC for their service, describing their leadership as a firm foundation for the new administration.

“The Network remains thankful for their dedication, collective wisdom, and lasting contribution,” he said.

The Speaker pledged to work closely with legislators across Africa to advance APNAC’s objectives, noting that progress in the fight against corruption would depend on unity and cooperation among member parliaments.

“Collective effort is vital to strengthening parliaments, improving accountability, and building a continent where integrity is upheld as a standard practice,” Mr. Bagbin stated.

The IPU President, in an earlier statement, said Mr. Bagbin’s “integrity, impartiality, and ability to build trust with all parties” informed his appointment to the Russia-Ukraine peace Task Force.

The IPU Task Force, which was established in March 2022, has so far held more than thirteen meetings and conducted diplomatic missions to Kyiv and Moscow.

As part of his duties, Mr. Bagbin will attend in-person meetings during IPU Assemblies and take part in hearings and discussions with both Ukrainian and Russian parliamentary delegations.

The African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption is a continental body that brings together legislators dedicated to tackling corruption through parliamentary oversight, policy reform, and institutional accountability.