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Ghana’s Parliament holds orientation workshop to boost transparency and accountability
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The Parliament of Ghana, in collaboration with Transparency International (TI) Ghana, has held an orientation workshop for Members of Parliament (MPs) in the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus.
The session focused on promoting the principles of open governance and Beneficial Ownership Transparency (BOT).
The workshop offered an in-depth presentation of the global and national context of the OGP initiative, highlighting key aspects of Ghana’s 5th OGP National Action Plan (2023–2027).
MPs were also briefed on the current state of BOT in Ghana, with a special focus on Parliament’s critical role in advancing its implementation.
Ghana joined the OGP in 2011 and has since remained committed to deepening transparency and accountability across governance structures.
A major highlight of the workshop was the country’s renewed focus on implementing the BOT, a mechanism designed to tackle illicit financial flows, corruption, and tax evasion, within the framework of its second National Action Plan. This includes efforts to enhance open contracting processes.
The orientation is part of Parliament’s broader strategy to strengthen democratic governance, promote inclusive policymaking, and deliver measurable outcomes of public interest.
Participants left the workshop with a strengthened resolve to champion the ideals of open government.
Members of the OGP Caucus reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring effective parliamentary oversight in the implementation of Ghana’s National Action Plan, further reinforcing the country’s leadership role in transparency reforms.
[15:28, 7/15/2025] Edem: Speaker Urges APF to Resolve Internal Challenges Through Established Mechanisms and Processes
The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has called on the Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF) to resolve its internal challenges through established mechanisms and processes, stressing that doing so will strengthen the organization’s unity and effectiveness.
He made this call when he addressed the 50th Session of the APF. The Speaker emphasized the need for the APF to remain focused on its core objectives and uphold its foundational values, particularly in times of internal disagreements.
Speaker Bagbin reiterated that the APF’s continued relevance depends on its ability to deal with internal matters transparently and decisively, while maintaining mutual respect among its members.
He noted that the strength of the Francophone community lies in its diversity and collective commitment to democratic values.
He also took the opportunity to commend the APF for promoting peace, dialogue, and cooperation across member states, and pledged Ghana’s continued support towards the advancement of the Francophone ideals.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has directed all aspirants campaigning in the Greater Accra Region to suspend their campaign activities on August 5 and 6 and instead mobilise supporters for the party’s planned “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration.
The directive was issued by the party’s National Steering Committee in a statement signed by the NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, on Tuesday.
According to the statement, the decision forms part of efforts to ensure a strong turnout for the demonstration, which is scheduled for Thursday, August 6, 2026.
The party said the protest would begin at 5:00 a.m., with participants expected to gather at the Supreme Court in Accra.
It further directed Regional, Constituency and Polling Station Executives in Greater Accra to work closely to mobilise members and supporters for the event.
“The National Steering Committee is calling on all aspirants currently campaigning across the Greater Accra Region to temporarily suspend their campaign activities on the 5th and 6th of August and join in mobilising support for the upcoming demonstration,” the statement noted.
The NPP appealed to party members and supporters to remain peaceful, disciplined and orderly throughout the protest.
The demonstration forms part of the party’s response to concerns it has raised over issues relating to Ghana’s democratic governance and the justice system.
The NPP leadership expressed confidence that party members would cooperate fully to ensure a successful and peaceful event.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has commissioned an expanded dialysis unit at the Upper West Regional Hospital in Wa to improve access to kidney treatment for people in northern Ghana.
The project, estimated to cost about GH¢4 million, was undertaken in partnership with Sustainable Health Education and Interventions Limited (SHEILD), the Upper West Parliamentary Caucus, the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service and other development partners.
The new facility was inaugurated on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, in Wa. It adds six dialysis machines, supporting equipment and staff training to strengthen renal care services at the hospital.
According to the Parliamentary Service, the expansion is expected to reduce the burden on patients with chronic kidney disease who previously travelled long distances to Accra, Kumasi and other major cities for dialysis treatment.
Commissioning the facility, Mr Bagbin described the project as an important investment in healthcare equity and social justice.
He noted that many families in the Upper West Region struggle to access specialist kidney care because of distance and cost.
“The people of the Upper West deserve to live with dignity. We deserve access to quality healthcare,” he stated, adding that the facility would bring treatment closer to patients and their families.
He commended SHEILD and the other partners for supporting the project and called for continued collaboration to improve specialist healthcare services across the country.
Board Director of SHEILD, Dr Sylvie Anie, indicated that the organisation remained committed to addressing critical healthcare gaps through sustainable interventions.
She explained that the expanded dialysis unit represented hope for patients who had struggled for years to obtain specialised kidney treatment.
Another Board Director of SHEILD, Dr John Nkrumah Mills, stressed that sustainable healthcare required investment in people, systems, partnerships and continuous capacity building.
He noted that the project demonstrated what could be achieved when institutions worked together to improve patient care.
Medical Director of the Upper West Regional Hospital, Dr Philip K. K. Baabiineh, stated that the expanded unit would significantly improve the hospital’s ability to provide comprehensive renal care.
He observed that many patients previously had limited treatment options and often travelled under difficult conditions to receive dialysis.
The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, described the project as consistent with government’s efforts to expand specialist healthcare services and reduce regional disparities in access to treatment.
He encouraged stronger partnerships between government, private organisations, development partners and healthcare institutions to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
The Parliamentary Service stated that chronic kidney disease was becoming a major public health challenge in Ghana, driven by increasing cases of hypertension, diabetes, obesity and late diagnosis.
It noted that access to dialysis services remained uneven, with most treatment centres concentrated in Accra and Kumasi, while many patients in northern Ghana faced high transport costs and long waiting times.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by government officials, traditional leaders, Members of Parliament, healthcare professionals, development partners, civil society organisations and community representatives.
By: Jacob Aggrey
