The President of the West Africa Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAAPAC), Mr. Traore Issouf, has called on African nations to remove visa barriers to foster economic integration, trade, and interpersonal relations across the continent.
Issouf made the call at the closing ceremony of WAAPAC’s 11th Annual Conference and General Assembly held on Wednesday in Abuja.
The week-long conference, themed “Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight of Public Debt,” brought together lawmakers from Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Togo, as well as participants from South Africa.
He urged national parliaments in West Africa to provide adequate funding for Public Accounts Committees (PACs) and supreme audit institutions, emphasising their crucial role in promoting transparency, combating corruption, and preventing the abuse of office.
The WAAPAC President commended President Bola Tinubu and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, for successfully hosting the regional conference. He also applauded the Nigerian government for its hospitality and praised the Nigerian Parliament for setting a benchmark in legislative accountability.
“Nigeria has set a model for parliamentary standards in Africa. The planning and organisation of this conference have been second to none,” Issouf said.
He further lauded the Chairman of Nigeria’s House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee, Rep. Bamidele Salam, for his leadership, commitment, and dedication to the goals of WAAPAC.
Issouf also announced that Liberia would host the next WAAPAC Regional Conference.
