Speaker of Parliament Alban S.K. Bagbin has observed the sooner contributions of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are recognized in the broader national agenda, the easier and more fulfilling the job of Members of Parliament.
Parliamentarians, he said, need to join up in the acknowledgement that citizens’ participation in the work of the legislature is inevitable in the present times.
Speaking at Knowledge Exchange Forum to commemorate the International Day of Parliamentarism organized by the Parliamentary Training Institutes on Tuesday, July 26, 2022, Hon. Alban Bagbin said the importance of CSOs to the diversity of democracy today demands legislators to formalise an interface between civil society and parliament in order to secure better development outcomes for mother Ghana.
Legislators, he said, should admit in this age of modernity one can only survive multidimensional crises when willing to reject anachronistic mentalities and ways of doing things in favour of welcoming new dynamic means of improving life and making it easier for all.
“Ladies and gentlemen, not too long ago, we can all recall lacing our boots in our quest to represent our constituents through a constitutional mandate and a system of governance known to all of us as representational democracy.”
“That accounts for why we are all gathered here today as Honourable Members of Parliament. Little did we know that, as dynamic as life is and always will be, democracy would follow suit by seeking to strengthen its representational outlook through increased inclusivity in its system of governance.”
Vibrant CSOs, he said, are at the heart of Ghana’s democratic governance and contribute significantly to public discourse, influence laws and public policies, and hold politicians accountable for pledges made, hopes given, services rendered or not rendered, and trust upheld or ditched.
“Civil Society Organizations are ideally formed and wired to serve as a vital source of information for both citizens and the government, by filling the space left untouched by the government and private sector.
He argued it is time for the world to ensure relevant CSOs and relevant laws are embedded in governance mechanisms and expressed gratitude to former Speaker Professor Aaron Mike Ocquaye for his valiant efforts in ensuring the passage of the Private Member’s Bill.
That, he said, allows CSOs with their varied experience and technical know-how to join MPs to develop critical legislation for the country.
He averred that in order to carry out Parliament’s strategic goal of institutionalizing Parliament-Citizen engagement, effective and sustainable partnerships with CSOs and think-tanks ought to be established through strategic and mutually beneficial partnerships.
He expressed his commitment to carrying on the legacy of his predecessor and establishing a Citizen Bureau within Parliament where selected civil society actors and media personnel will be accredited to assist Parliament in the discharge of its oversight responsibility and post-legislative scrutiny function.
Parliamentarians of the unique 8th Parliament, he said, must endeavour to erase and dispel the negative labels of “greed and corruption,” that have gained currency due to unwillingness to rise above partisan, and often parochial personal interests.
According to him, the tendency not to question what is done, for fear of falling out of line with, at times the whip system of parliament, is also slowly sinking the boat of reverence in which politicians and the conduct of politics used to sail.
The Speaker called for immediate and progressive steps toward an inclusive system of governance through consultation and engagement with identifiable groups in the broader society such as religious leaders, traditional authorities, private sector players and most importantly, think tanks and CSOs.