Over the past three decades, Ghana’s Parliament, in partnership with civil society organizations (CSOs) and development partners, has sought to bridge the gap between citizens and their elected representatives. These efforts have been aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and citizen participation in parliamentary processes, as well as the institutionalization of mechanisms to promote the Open Parliament Concept.
As Ghana’s democratic journey continues, Parliament and its stakeholders recognize the importance of reflecting on the role of citizens in shaping legislative decisions. The past thirty years have witnessed significant strides, but there remains room for improvement. How can we further empower citizens to actively engage with Parliament? How can we strengthen collaboration between Parliament and CSOs to advance parliamentary democracy?
PDA’s Membership in the Citizen’s Bureau
As a committed advocate for participatory governance, Participatory Development Associates (PDA) has been included in the Citizen’s Bureau. This strategic initiative is part of the Corporate Strategic Plan of Ghana’s Parliament to institutionalize engagements with CSOs and think tanks. The goal is to foster meaningful dialogue, promote inclusivity, and enhance parliamentary processes.
Recently, PDA participated in a pivotal workshop focused on the (draft) revised standing orders of the Parliament of Ghana. Held on Saturday, April 6th, at Aqua Safari Resort in Ada, the workshop brought together representatives from various CSOs, independent constitutional bodies, and the Parliamentary Service.
The workshop provided a platform for CSOs to engage with the state on behalf of the audiences they represent. Key discussions centered around the operationalization of the new Standing Orders. These orders, which came into effect on January 2nd, 2024, address shortcomings of the previous version, including procedural gaps. They also aim to:
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- Enhance Transparency and Accountability: By clarifying procedures and responsibilities, the new standing orders promote openness and accountability in parliamentary proceedings.
- Empower Parliament: The updated orders empower Parliament to exercise its legal authority effectively, ensuring robust decision-making.
- Adapt to Changing Trends: In an ever-evolving democratic landscape, the new orders allow Parliament to respond dynamically to emerging trends.
The workshop commenced with a keynote address by the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin. His words underscored the significance of these reforms in shaping Ghana’s democratic future. Participants then delved into the provisions of the new standing orders.
Key Responses and Insights
CSOs had a unique opportunity to engage, ask questions and provide valuable input on the presentations to enhance the inclusivity and representativeness of the standing orders. The following key areas for consideration are emphasized by PDA:
1. Inclusivity for all
We advocate for the inclusion of diverse perspectives in the new standing orders for Ghana’s Parliament. Specifically, we emphasize the importance of gender- and age-inclusive language and terminology. Moreover, specific attention must be paid to the accessibility of the Standing Orders for all citizens, taking into consideration varying literacy levels in English, allowances for local language, and provisions for persons with disabilities (e.g. Visual impairments). Moreover, in an increasingly digital world, provisions for virtual participation are essential; the orders must therefore make room to facilitate this kind of engagement.
2. Awareness Creation
We advocate for deliberate efforts to educate citizens about Parliament’s functions and decision-making processes through a well-designed visibility strategy, leveraging digital technologies to make all citizens aware of why and how Parliament does what it does. This will also help to prevent some harsh comments from the public that often stem from a misunderstanding of acceptable procedures and processes in the House.
3. Documentation of Institutional Memory
We advocate that institutional memory regarding the history, context and rationale for the revised standing orders should be documented and preserved. Knowledgeable resource persons like the Speaker, the Clerk and deputy Clerks and others from the Parliamentary Service will not always be available in coming years. Intentional effort must therefore be made to record and preserve the knowledge of more experienced and long-serving members of the House. We propose using audio-visual technologies for this purpose and written texts like a foreword that can be included in the standing orders.
4. Ongoing Engagement and Accountability
We advocate that Parliament should remain responsive and committed to accountability and transparency. Provisions must be made for ongoing engagement, monitoring and enquiry from CSOs, citizens, and other stakeholders. For instance, petitions and questions should still be allowed to be submitted to the House as a whole, and to specific sub-committees, regarding their areas of oversight.
PDA, alongside other CSOs, will closely monitor the implementation of the new standing orders and contribute to their success. The finalized standing orders will soon be available for download on the website of the Parliament of Ghana.