Accra, Ghana – July 16, 2024 – The Public Forum on Four Years of Private Members’ Bills (PMBs) regime in Ghana took place at the School of Public Health Auditorium at the University of Ghana, attracting hundreds of attendees, including the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Members of Parliament, Ministers of State, academics, experts, and representatives from various student parliamentary leaderships.
The forum was organized by the Parliamentary Network Africa (PNAfrica) in collaboration with the University of Ghana Parliament House (UGPH), and with the support of the French Embassy in Ghana. It centered on the theme “Four Years of Private Member’s Bills in Ghana: The Experiences, Lessons, and Ways Forward,” addressing crucial issues such as the impasse between the Executive and the Legislature on PMBs and the future path forward.
Event Highlights
The forum provided a platform for evaluating the PMB regime’s significance and impact on Ghana’s legislative process. Discussions included: The implications of the President’s refusal to assent to PMBs on the work of Parliament and democratic governance in Ghana; Solutions to the current impasse between the Executive and Legislature regarding PMBs; Enhancing collaboration among state actors and promoting the advantages of the PMB regime.
Keynote Address
The 7th Speaker of the 8th Parliament of the Republic of Ghana, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin delivered the keynote address. He highlighted the importance of discussing the PMB regime within the context of student leadership and the 20th-anniversary celebration of the UGPH, established by the Parliament of Ghana in 2004.
Speaker Bagbin praised PNAfrica for its leadership in the parliamentary monitoring space and its proactive approach to ensuring citizen participation in parliamentary democracy in Africa. He stated, “I must commend the organizers for taking great interest in the work of Parliament and for creating this opportunity for us to have such an important conversation. PNAfrica is a discovery.”
He also lauded PNAfrica for its role in promoting the PMB regime initiated in Ghana four years ago and for choosing the UGPH platform for the forum. “Today’s forum is very timely as it offers the universities, particularly the University of Ghana Parliament House, an opportune platform to reflect on an important development of our legislative process. This hitherto was unknown in our practice. That is the introduction of Private Member’s Bills in Ghana,” Speaker Bagbin observed.
State of Parliament Address by the Speaker of UGPH
Right Hon. Justice Alor, the 20th Speaker of the UGPH, reflected on the journey of the UGPH since 2004, recognizing it as the most vibrant student parliament in Ghana. According to him, the UGPH has provided a dynamic platform for students to discuss public interest issues, develop leadership skills, and produce leaders excelling in various positions.
“The UGPH’s impact has built confidence among students and is seen as a beacon of hope, with the expectation of continued growth and achievements,” he emphasized.
Panel Discussions
The event featured a panel discussion moderated by Sammy Obeng, Executive Director of PNAfrica. Panelists included: Hon. Francis-Xavier Sosu, MP for Madina; Hon. Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, Deputy Attorney General and Minister for Justice; Dr. Maame Adwoa Gyekye-Jandoh, Senior Lecturer, Political Science Department, University of Ghana.
The discussion focused on “Assessing the Legislature-Executive Relationship: A Case Study of the Private Members’ Bill Regime in Ghana.”
Reflections and Future Directions
Sammy Obeng, Executive Director of PNAfrica, recalled the consultations with Civil Society Organizations prior to the adoption of a resolution by the 7th Parliament, led by former Speaker Rt. Hon. Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye on July 16, 2020, to operationalize the PMB regime in Ghana. He remarked, “For me, there could not have been a better time to have such conversations after four years of implementation.”
The forum underscored the need for state institutions to work collaboratively to sustain the PMB regime, emphasizing that Private Members’ Bills originate from society and are presented to Parliament on behalf of its members by Members of Parliament.
The event successfully highlighted the importance of the PMB regime in enhancing Ghana’s legislative process and democratic governance. It fostered dialogue among parliamentarians, civil society, academics, and students, promoting collaborative efforts to strengthen the country’s legislative framework and address current challenges.
Guest Participation
Other guests from institutions like the EU Commission, British High Commission, BudgetIT Ghana, WilDalf, The Netherlands Embassy, UNIMAC Parliament, Accra Technical University PH, Speaker and Members of UPSA Parliament, and others were present, including the UGPH Speaker and Members of the Wisconsin Student Parliament. Madam Margaret Donkor, Deputy Director, Public Engagement Department of Parliament, Members of Staff of the Parliamentary Services, ACEPA, GRASSAG, and the Ghana Federation of Disability were all present.
Source: PNAfrica Comms
