Accra, June 30, 2025 — The Executive Director of Parliamentary Network Africa (PNAfrica), Mr. Sammy Obeng, has been named Co-Chair of Ghana’s newly inaugurated Open Parliament Steering Committee, alongside the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin. The Committee has been established to provide strategic oversight and drive the implementation of Ghana’s Open Parliament Action Plan under the Open Government Partnership (OGP) initiative.
Mr. Obeng’s nomination followed a request for one of the civil society representatives on the Committee to serve as Co-Chair. The Ghana Parliamentary Monitoring Organisations Network (GPMON) Secretariat, acting on behalf of civil society, nominated Mr. Obeng in recognition of his leadership in advancing parliamentary openness across the continent.
The civil society representatives on the Committee were nominated by GPMON and include:
- Mrs. Esther Poku-Aduhene – Programmes Manager, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI)
- Hajia Hafsatu Sey Sumani – Head of Programmes and Policy Influencing, NORSAAC
- Dr. Michael Augustus Akagbor – Program Manager, CDD-Ghana
- Mr. Jerry Sam – Executive Director, Penplusbytes
- Mr. Sammy Obeng – Executive Director, Parliamentary Network Africa (PNAfrica)
The official Open Parliament Action Plan, launched as part of the celebrations marking the 2025 International Day of Parliamentarianism, is built on four core pillars: transparency, accountability, citizen participation, and the use of technology and innovation. The plan seeks to respond to key democratic deficits, including limited citizen access to legislative processes, low levels of youth and gender inclusion, and weak mechanisms for public engagement and parliamentary follow-up.
The full Steering Committee inaugurated to oversee the plan’s rollout includes a blend of parliamentary and civil society leaders:
- Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin (Chair)
- Hon. Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, Chair of the OGP Caucus in Parliament
- Hon. Alexander Kwasi Aquah, Vice Chair
- Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, Clerk to Parliament
- Mrs. Esther Poku-Eduhene, CHRI
- Mrs. Matilda Ayamga, NORSAAC
- Dr. Michael Augustus Akakpo, CDD-Ghana
- Mr. Jerry Sam, Penplusbytes
- Mr. Samuel Obeng, PNAfrica (Co-Chair)
- Mrs. Afia Tenge, Director of Public Engagement and Secretary to the Committee
Speaking at the launch, the Rt. Hon. Speaker Bagbin described the Committee’s inauguration as “not only a bold step, but also a pledge.” He emphasized that the initiative reflects a “shared commitment to address national challenges through stronger collaboration between government and citizens.”
Mr. Obeng’s co-leadership of the Steering Committee is expected to further deepen civil society’s role in Ghana’s parliamentary reform agenda, bringing technical expertise, public accountability tools, and citizen-centered perspectives to the implementation of the Action Plan.
Source: Clement Akoloh||Parliamentary Network Africa
