Platform for CSOs, media input in parliament launched
A new platform to foster Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and media participation in parliamentary activities to enhance transparency and accountability, was launched in Accra yesterday.
Dubbed ‘Citizens’ Bureau’, the platform is aimed at disseminating information to parliament’s key stakeholders, whilst gathering information and their perspectives to enhance representation, law and policy formulation, and its oversight responsibilities to meet the expectations of citizens.
Launched by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin, it will build a database of think-tanks in Ghana and enable two-way information sharing, including research findings.
Speaking at the event, Mr Bagbin said, Citizens’ Bureau had become necessary in response to the critical role CSOs and the media play in advancing democracy as well as growing disconnect between the political elites and the people they serve.
He said recent happenings in the West African political landscape backs the notion that citizens feel alienated from political discourses.
This, the Speaker noted, had led to mistrust and erosion of the confidence that the electorate had in political leadership and reversed the gains that democracy had made in the past two to three decades.
Mr Bagbin stated that in 2022, a survey by Parliament gave credence to the disconnect between the House and the people they serve with more than 80 per cent of respondents calling for the creation of a unit to deepen citizens’ participation in parliament’s work.
He said, this informed the decision of Parliament to take measures to address the current mistrust of the political system and prioritise involving significant groups and the media.
Mr Bagbin said, “The best way to do this is to involve them. Running for office as representatives of the people comes with a duty to place them at the centre of decisions we make and the laws we pass.
“Our ability to consistently engage significant others and understand their perspectives will determine the quality of our representation. It is that narrative of engagement that the citizen’s bureau intends to rewrite”.
As an intervening force between the governed and governments, he said the CSOs and media were the conscience of the Ghanaian society and shape laws, policies and regulations using their research findings.
By constantly setting the agenda for public discourse, Mr Bagbin explained that, “the media shines the light on issues requiring oversight and scrutiny and gives a voice to the voiceless by amplifying the issues that are of concern to the man on the street.”
Majority Leader of Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said the bureau marks an important step towards arriving at a place of deepening transparency in line with the open parliament initiative.
He said transparency and accountability was were essential factors in developing Ghana’s democracy.
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minority Leader of Parliament, urged the bureau to enhance engagements with Parliament to make available the views of the citizenry in governance.
BY CLAUDE NYARKO ADAMS
