UK-Ghana Parliamentary Partnership: Speaker Bagbin urges continued support for effective oversight

By Eugene Davis

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has paid a heartfelt tribute to the longstanding and impactful partnership between the UK and Ghana’s Parliament, highlighting the critical role it has played in the country’s democratic development. However, he also called for further support to enable Parliament to effectively perform its oversight role on the executive branch.

In his opening remarks, Speaker Bagbin urged the UK government to enhance its support for Ghana’s Parliament, particularly in the area of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). He underscored the need for continued assistance to further the transition to a paperless Parliament, noting that Ghana is eager to modernize its parliamentary processes in line with global standards.

“We are eager to explore new avenues of cooperation, particularly in leveraging technology and advancing gender equity in governance—an area where many of us are still striving to make significant progress. We are pursuing these efforts with a firm commitment to sustainable development,” Bagbin stated.

The Speaker also acknowledged the vital role the UK government has played in supporting Ghana’s parliamentary reforms. He pointed to ongoing efforts to enhance the institution’s capacity, with the long-term objective of strengthening Parliament’s oversight function, particularly in public finance management. “Over the past two decades, this partnership has deepened in meaningful and impactful ways,” he added.

Speaker Bagbin made these remarks during a meeting with the UK Minister for International Development, Baroness Jenny Chapman, who visited Parliament House on Thursday to learn firsthand about the impact of UK support and engage with Parliament and its beneficiaries.

Outlining some of the key milestones of the UK’s support to Ghana’s Parliament, Speaker Bagbin highlighted the success of the Public Accounts Committee, which, with UK assistance, has become one of the most transparent and effective committees in the House. He also acknowledged the UK’s contribution in establishing two pivotal parliamentary institutions—the Parliamentary Training Institute and the Office of Budget and Fiscal Analysis—which have been instrumental in building the capacity of both MPs and parliamentary staff.

Baroness Chapman, in turn, praised the partnership as a model of collaboration and reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to continuing its support of Ghana’s democratic institutions. She acknowledged the significant progress Ghana’s Parliament has made, noting, “It has been a long journey, and although we are not there yet, Ghana has made impressive strides in building a strong, functional parliament. I look forward to learning more about the impact of our support and how we can build on our successes going forward.”

The UK and Ghana share a long-standing partnership that focuses on strengthening democratic institutions, fostering inclusive governance, and promoting evidence-based policymaking. This relationship underscores the shared commitment to advancing transparency, accountability, and good governance.

Deputy Majority Leader, Kwaku George Ricketts-Hagan, emphasized the importance of reviewing and strengthening the longstanding relationship between the two parliaments. He expressed hope that further collaboration would continue to enhance Ghana’s parliamentary processes and governance frameworks.

Meanwhile, Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, shared the challenges faced by his caucus following the loss in the recent general elections, which reduced their membership from 88 to 87 after the latest by-election. Despite these setbacks, he expressed confidence in their ability to overcome difficulties, drawing inspiration from the Majority’s experience in 2016. “When you have a history of overcoming challenges, you are motivated to work even harder,” Afenyo-Markin stated. He also commended Speaker Bagbin for setting high standards and ushering in transformational changes within the Parliament.

The visit and dialogue also align with the newly launched UK-funded initiative aimed at building the capacity of Parliamentarians for Economic and Financial Governance. The initiative, which was launched in June 2025, is designed to strengthen Parliament’s oversight role in economic and financial governance. With £800,000 in support from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO), the program will run for 18 months, focusing on enhancing the capacity of Ghanaian Parliamentarians to improve fiscal oversight, accelerate legislative review processes, and promote fiscal discipline.

Through this continued collaboration, the UK-Ghana Parliament partnership remains a cornerstone of strengthening democratic governance, fostering transparency, and ensuring that Ghana’s Parliament is better equipped to meet the needs of its citizens.