Speaker calls for inclusive governance framework
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has called for a governance framework that transcends traditional parliamentary democracy to incorporate broader participation from civil society organisations (CSOs).
He stressed that CSOs were a crucial part of Ghana's democratic architecture and that more engagement was necessary to enhance the country's governance system.
Mr Bagbin made these remarks during a high-level dialogue with CSOs and think tanks, aimed at strengthening collaboration and reinforcing Parliament's commitment to transparency, accountability and citizen participation.
The forum, themed: "Embracing Inclusivity, Engagement and Collaboration with the Parliament of Ghana," brought together prominent CSOs, including IMANI Africa, the Ghana Integrity Initiative and the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-GH).
Others were the Parliamentary Network Africa, the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Star Ghana, ACEPA, the Media Foundation for West Africa, the Gender Center for Empowering Development, CAMFED, the Legal Resource Centre, and Youth Advocate Ghana.
The Speaker commended CSOs for their contributions to policy development, particularly through research and data-driven advocacy.
He referenced key parliamentary initiatives, including anti-corruption efforts and local government reforms, that were supported by the input of civil society.
“With Ghana ranking top in the 2022 Africa Open Parliament Index, these reforms demonstrate Parliament’s commitment to enhancing its democratic processes through a continuous partnership with civil society,” he said.
Gender equality
One area the Speaker was passionate about was the issue of gender equity and reiterated the importance of the Affirmative Action Act, which mandates more significant gender equity across all sectors of governance.
He acknowledged that progress has been slow and called for more robust gender equity initiatives in governance. He also urged support for the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024, ACT 1121.
Engagement
The Chair of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus in Parliament, Emmanuel Bedzrah, announced Ghana’s recent recognition at the Regional Meeting for Africa and the Middle East.
He noted that technology and innovation have been essential in enhancing Parliament’s engagement with citizens, mentioning that Parliament’s website and data platforms have been continuously updated to meet the public's needs.
However, he stated that more can be achieved through collaboration. He alluded to an Action Plan that is yet to be launched, which would further strengthen these efforts and ensure that Parliament meets its commitments to an open and accountable government.
CSOs
The CSOs commended the Speaker for his commitment to inclusive governance, particularly in promoting female leadership.
However, some participants raised concerns about the lack of female representation in certain parliamentary committees, especially in areas such as health, where women’s perspectives are vital.
They urged constitutional amendments to strengthen gender representation in government.
Additionally, they advocated sustained collaboration with Parliament, calling for the full implementation of the Open Government Partnership Action Plan to enhance transparency and accountability.
