News:
June 12, 2026
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the ECOWAS Parliament is set to conduct public hearings on audit reports from the Community’s Auditor General, according to Senator Osita Izunaso, the committee’s First Rapporteur.
Izunaso made the announcement following a three-day capacity-building workshop for committee members held in Accra, Ghana. He praised members for their full participation, noting that the meeting took place outside the Parliament’s headquarters.
The timing of the first public hearing will depend on when the Auditor General’s reports are submitted to the committee, Izunaso explained.
During the workshop, the committee compared regional parliaments including the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), the Pan African Parliament (PAP), and the ECOWAS Parliament. Izunaso observed that only the European Parliament enjoys full autonomy.
“Our powers are limited in terms of enforcement and implementation,” Izunaso said. “We are looking at how to expand these issues, and one of the things we were told to do is to conduct oversight and hold public hearings.”
He added that auditors often prefer not to have their names mentioned when infractions occur, making it essential for audit reports to be ready before the committee meets. To address this, the PAC has decided to hold regular meetings.
The outcomes of the committee’s work will be submitted to the plenary during the second ordinary session in Abuja, Nigeria, for final decision by the full parliament.
Kwaku Sakyi/Ghanamps.com