News
Parliament Partners with World Bank and FCDO to Strengthen Legislative Capacity
The Parliament of Ghana has held a briefing session on a new support initiative in partnership with the World Bank and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
The project aims to enhance the capacity of Members of Parliament and their staff in economic and financial governance to improve legislative efficiency and oversight.
The initiative, themed “Building the Capacity of Parliamentarians for Economic and Financial Governance,” was introduced by officials from the World Bank and FCD.
They emphasized the need for continuous development of parliamentary procedures and the importance of enhancing MPs’ understanding of legislative processes to ensure accountability and informed decision-making.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, welcomed the project, noting that it will expand Parliament’s engagement with development partners and boost its ability to fulfil its constitutional duties.
He emphasized that a retooled Parliament will be better equipped to fulfil both its legislative and oversight responsibilities.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Kwaku Ricketts-Hagan, and Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, commended the support from the World Bank and FCDO, describing the initiative as timely and impactful.
In his closing remarks, the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, noted that the current Parliament comprises highly educated Members who chair key committees.
He urged committee leaders to take full ownership of the project and ensure its effective implementation to strengthen Parliament’s overall performance.
The official launch of the project will be led by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban S. K. Bagbin, on June 18, 2025 at Parliament House.
The Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Abena Osei Asare has expressed concerns about the failure of the Administrator of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) Mr. Paul Adjei to honour invitation of the Committee to assist in dealing with abandoned projects cited in the 2024 Auditor-General’s report.
She emphasised that some of the projects have been abandoned for more than 20 years and it kept reoccurring in the Auditor-General’s report yearly, stressing that the GETFund Administrator could assist by prioritising these projects.
However, he has failed to personally appear before the Committee since the commencement of the Committee’s public hearing in the 9th Parliament.
According to the 2024 Auditor-General’s report on Pre-University Educational Institutions, nine (9) Institutions with 16 projects awarded by the GET Fund Secretariat had been abandoned/delayed for a period ranging between three (3) and 28 years.
Some of the affected schools include Adanwomoase Senior High School (Boys and Girls dormitory abandoned for 12 years), Atoa Senior High School (Home Economics Block abandoned for 27 years), Beposo Senior High School (Dinning Hall and Kitchen Complex abandoned for 10 years and lastly KNUST Senior High School (Three storey classroom block abandoned for 20 years).
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy continued its oversight responsibilities with a working visit to the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) yesterday.
Chairman of the Committee, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, said the visit formed part of efforts to familiarize members with the Authority’s operations and to explore ways Parliament could provide the necessary support.
He explained that the NPA’s work is focused on regulating Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector, a critical area for national energy security.
Mr. Bedzrah noted that the Committee is particularly interested in assessing whether the country has adequate petroleum stock to meet demand.
He noted that rising geopolitical tensions, including the ongoing US–Iran conflict, could have adverse effect on Ghana’s energy supply and pricing.
He further disclosed that the Committee intends to engage closely with the Authority on a proposed new petroleum bill.
According to him, a draft of the legislation will be reviewed and possibly presented to Parliament under a certificate of urgency.
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