Parliament House, Accra | July 1, 2025
As parliaments across the world marked the International Day of Parliamentarianism, Ghana’s Ho West MP and Chair of Parliament’s OGP Caucus, Hon. Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, delivered a passionate statement in Parliament, calling for sustained action to achieve gender equality and deepen democratic governance.
The day, observed globally on June 30 and established by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations, recognises the vital role of parliaments in promoting democracy, accountability, and inclusive representation.
Theme Focus: Gender Equality “Action by Action”
This year’s theme, “Achieving Gender Equality, Action by Action,” was described by Hon. Bedzrah as a timely reminder that progress must be deliberate and consistent. He stressed that gender equality is not about homogenising men and women, but about ensuring equal rights and opportunities for all.
“The lack of gender equality in most parliaments results in a shortage of gender-responsive legislators and policies,” he said, highlighting the impact on inclusive development and participatory democracy.
Ghana’s Parliament, he noted, has made strides with the Affirmative Action and Gender Equity Act, 2024 (Act 1121), which sets targets to increase women’s representation to 30% by 2026 and 50% by 2030. However, he lamented the country’s current female representation of just 14.6%, ranking Ghana 137th globally.
Open Governance and Legislative Progress
Hon. Bedzrah also used the occasion to celebrate Ghana’s advancement in open governance, especially under the Open Government Partnership (OGP) framework. He lauded the recent inauguration of the Open Parliament Steering Committee and the launch of the Open Parliament Action Plan, which prioritises transparency, accountability, citizen participation, and technology.
“This is a strategic step toward addressing longstanding challenges such as low youth and gender inclusion and limited public access to legislative processes,” he stated.
He noted Ghana’s leadership in OGP in the region, with Parliament ranking first in West Africa on the 2022 Open Parliament Index and supporting similar initiatives in Côte d’Ivoire and Benin.
Parliament’s Democratic Journey and Challenges
Reflecting on Ghana’s parliamentary journey, Hon. Bedzrah cited the 2020 hung Parliament as a milestone that improved bipartisan collaboration. He acknowledged the adoption of new Standing Orders in 2024 as another step forward.
However, he was candid about challenges that continue to affect parliamentary effectiveness and public trust, including partisanship, legislative-executive imbalance, and the public’s limited understanding of MPs’ core duties.
A recent 2024 study revealed that only 8% of Ghanaians value lawmaking and just 2% value oversight, a situation he said calls for intensified public education.
Call to Action
Hon. Bedzrah concluded his statement with a call for unity in building a more inclusive and effective Parliament.
“Let us work together to build a more accountable, inclusive, and effective Parliament that serves the best interests of all Ghanaians and stands as a beacon of democracy on the African continent and beyond.”
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
