The African Organization for Public Accounts Committees (AFROPAC), comprising Public Accounts Committees from various African legislatures, has met with the Pan-African Parliament Committee on Audit and Public Accounts (CAPA) to discuss potential collaboration in multiple areas. The meeting took place during the 3rd Ordinary Session of the 6th Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, South Africa.
CAPA, established in 2015, is tasked with reviewing audit reports, overseeing accounting policies and guidelines, and ensuring good governance and accountability within the Pan-African Parliament.
"In our meeting, I emphasized the need for collaboration in research and development, policy, and knowledge sharing," said Medard Lubega Sseggona, AFROPAC Chairman. He added, "We agreed to formalize our relationship with a Memorandum of Understanding and to start participating in each other's activities to further our common objectives."
AFROPAC, established in September 2013 in Arusha, Tanzania, is a network of Public Accounts Committees (PACs) and similar committees from African Union member states. After participating in the Pan-African Conference on Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) in Tunis, Tunisia, from June 26-28, 2024, AFROPAC reaffirmed its mission to promote good governance, accountability, and transparency in public resource management and government operations in Africa.
Hon. Mark Botomani, AFROPAC Secretary General, stated that the AUC conference resolved to strengthen legal frameworks, enhance regulatory policies, and promote transparency in tax systems to mitigate IFFs and tax evasion. "The conference also resolved to support capacity building for financial and tax authorities to detect, prevent, and prosecute IFF activities," said Hon. Botomani.
"As AFROPAC, we found the discussions compelling. We see the need to track the implementation of previous resolutions to move from words to action. States must focus on both recovery and repatriation of IFFs. Member of Parliament participation in such conferences is crucial, hence the need to collaborate with institutions like the Pan-African Parliament," he added. AFROPAC has invited the Pan-African Parliament to their General Meeting scheduled for November in Ivory Coast.
CAPA Rapporteur, Hon. Nsamba Oshabe Patrick, welcomed AFROPAC's proposals and envisioned a fruitful collaboration between the two audit bodies. He emphasized the need for a Memorandum of Understanding to outline areas of cooperation. "We are pleased that your submissions align with our interests. We need an arrangement to engage in research and capacity building. We will present your proposals to the Plenary as they are essential for CAPA's mandate," added Hon. Oshabe.
Dr. Christiane Schuppert, Head of Programmes at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), congratulated AFROPAC and the Pan-African Parliament for committing to this initiative. "We support AFROPAC's activities and are glad they are working towards a partnership with the Pan-African Parliament, which we will support," she said.
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