{"id":2232,"date":"2025-07-03T12:16:57","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T12:16:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parliamentnews360.com\/?p=2232"},"modified":"2025-07-03T12:17:07","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T12:17:07","slug":"hon-bedzrah-calls-for-inclusive-and-accountable-governance-on-international-day-of-parliamentarianism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parliamentnews360.com\/index.php\/hon-bedzrah-calls-for-inclusive-and-accountable-governance-on-international-day-of-parliamentarianism\/","title":{"rendered":"Hon. Bedzrah Calls for Inclusive and Accountable Governance on International Day of Parliamentarianism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Parliament House, Accra | July 1, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As parliaments across the world marked the International Day of Parliamentarianism<\/strong>, Ghana\u2019s Ho West MP and Chair of Parliament\u2019s OGP Caucus, Hon. Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah<\/strong>, delivered a passionate statement in Parliament, calling for sustained action to achieve gender equality and deepen democratic governance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The day, observed globally on June 30<\/strong> and established by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)<\/strong> and the United Nations<\/strong>, recognises the vital role of parliaments in promoting democracy, accountability, and inclusive representation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theme Focus: Gender Equality \u201cAction by Action\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s theme, \u201cAchieving Gender Equality, Action by Action,\u201d<\/em> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe lack of gender equality in most parliaments results in a shortage of gender-responsive legislators and policies,\u201d he said, highlighting the impact on inclusive development and participatory democracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ghana\u2019s Parliament, he noted, has made strides with the Affirmative Action and Gender Equity Act, 2024 (Act 1121)<\/strong>, which sets targets to increase women\u2019s representation to 30% by 2026<\/strong> and 50% by 2030<\/strong>. However, he lamented the country\u2019s current female representation of just 14.6%<\/strong>, ranking Ghana 137th globally<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open Governance and Legislative Progress<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hon. Bedzrah also used the occasion to celebrate Ghana\u2019s advancement in open governance<\/strong>, especially under the Open Government Partnership (OGP)<\/strong> framework. He lauded the recent inauguration of the Open Parliament Steering Committee<\/strong> and the launch of the Open Parliament Action Plan<\/strong>, which prioritises transparency, accountability, citizen participation, and technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a strategic step toward addressing longstanding challenges such as low youth and gender inclusion and limited public access to legislative processes,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He noted Ghana\u2019s leadership in OGP in the region, with Parliament ranking first in West Africa<\/strong> on the 2022 Open Parliament Index and supporting similar initiatives in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire and Benin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parliament\u2019s Democratic Journey and Challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflecting on Ghana\u2019s parliamentary journey, Hon. Bedzrah cited the 2020 hung Parliament<\/strong> as a milestone that improved bipartisan collaboration. He acknowledged the adoption of new Standing Orders in 2024<\/strong> as another step forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, he was candid about challenges that continue to affect parliamentary effectiveness and public trust, including partisanship, legislative-executive imbalance, and the public\u2019s limited understanding of MPs’ core duties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A recent 2024 study revealed that only 8%<\/strong> of Ghanaians value lawmaking and just 2%<\/strong> value oversight, a situation he said calls for intensified public education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Call to Action<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hon. Bedzrah concluded his statement with a call for unity in building a more inclusive and effective Parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As parliaments across the world marked the International Day of Parliamentarianism, Ghana\u2019s Ho West MP and Chair of Parliament\u2019s OGP Caucus, Hon. Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, delivered a passionate statement in Parliament, calling for sustained action to achieve gender equality and deepen democratic governance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2234,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[1340,1338,1269],"class_list":{"0":"post-2232","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-news","8":"tag-1340","9":"tag-day-of-parliamentarianism","10":"tag-hon-emmanuel-kwasi-bedzrah"},"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n