Programs manager at the Centre for Democratic Development, Paul Nana Kwabena Mensah has elaborated on the parliament’s role in making the country’s democracy work.
Mr. Mensah was speaking at the 30th anniversary of Parliament, themed “30 years of parliamentary democracy under the Fourth Republic.”
According to Mr. Mensah, Ghanaians depend heavily on the parliament to check and balance the executive body of the government, examine proposed legislation and protect the general public to make sure that the parliamentary democracy delivers for the people
“The Fourth republican parliament is the first and only parliament in our history to reach adulthood. With the coming of age of parliament, naturally, increases expectations from citizens. The people of Ghana still look up to parliament to keep oversight and check and balance the executive, protect the public purse and diligently scrutinize proposed legislation and international contracts and agreement among other things. In short, substantial parts of the burden of making our democracy work and making it work for the people rests on the shoulder of parliament. Continued public faith in our democracy depends to a large extent on the success of parliament in meeting the democratic expectation aspirations of the people.”
Paul Mensah further emphasized the commitment and readiness of civil society to stand with the people and parliament to ensure effective parliamentary democracy.
“We in civil society are committed to standing with the people and for that matter, with parliament to ensure that our parliamentary democracy delivers for the people” he added.
Mr. Mensah ended his speech by congratulating the parliament and parliamentary service of Ghana on behalf of all civil society organizations.
“I’ll stand on behalf of the CDD Ghana, all civil society organizations across the length and breadth of Ghana to congratulate the parliament of Ghana and the parliamentary service of Ghana and wish them a happy 30th anniversary”.
