- The Speaker of Parliament’s official mansion in Accra’s Cantonments was allegedly on the verge of being sold to a private developer, but the Lands Commission in Ghana has refuted these claims. The accusation was made by the speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, at a “Speaker’s breakfast forum.” The site was not sold to a private developer, according to the Lands Commission.
- The Speaker has lived on the property since 2003. It was purchased in 1920 for government use. Parliamentary Service requested a Certificate of Allocation in order to formally establish their habitation on the roughly 1.66-acre plot of land.
- At its 64th Regular Meeting on December 22, 2022, the Regional Lands Commission accepted the proposal following the completion of all required procedures, which included obtaining planning approval from the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly.
- The Lands Commission offered Parliamentary Service an allocation on February 14, 2023. Parliamentary Service accepted the offer, and on April 28, 2023, a Certificate of Allocation was granted upon payment of the necessary fees. The Speaker’s official mansion may have been sold to a private developer, although the Lands Commission is not aware of any such transaction.
- The purpose of the forum where Bagbin made the accusation was to investigate new avenues for collaboration for responsible governance while also assisting in strengthening the bond between Parliament and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
- It was also a part of the commemoration of 30 years of continuous parliamentary democracy held by Parliament.
- In conclusion, Ghana’s Lands Commission is dedicated to encouraging excellent land administration founded on honesty, openness, and integrity as well as the wise and effective management of public lands in the benefit of the country.
- In order to improve the Parliament’s operations and maintain the advancements achieved in Ghanaian democracy, the Speaker of the Parliament has urged the government to make infrastructural investments. He underlined that parliament has been marginalized and stripped of its assets, in contrast to the courts and executive branches of government.
- Apart from Accra, Parliament is the only institution in the nation without any offices, and it is now having difficulty getting its land to support constructions. The Speaker is eager to construct regional offices and constituency offices for Members of Parliament, as this has not been given priority and MPs are now functioning without offices in their respective constituencies.
- The Speaker also bemoaned the low level of public-MP contact, which she said created a gulf and made it hard for the general people to understand and value the job that parliament and MPs do. According to the Speaker, the Ghanaian parliament receives an international rating of 88% for effectiveness as a check on government, while at home, the CDD afro barometer rates the parliament at just 8%.
- This leads to significant attrition rates among MPs who are rejected at polls for entirely unjustified reasons.
- In order to effectively encourage public participation in decision-making, representatives democracies must regularly communicate with their constituents. The Speaker thinks that frequent and organized interaction, such as regular visits by Members of Parliament to constituents, will promote openness and responsible government.
- To make Parliament more engaging, changes and reorganizations have been made. For example, the public affairs department has been divided into three divisions: media relations, public engagement, and television. A new organogram including amended Standing Orders has been approved by the Parliamentary Service Board and will go into effect prior to the House’s December 22 recess.
- Additionally, the Citizens Bureau is assisting in the creation of a handbook called “Working with Parliament of Ghana, a guide to CSOs,” which will help CSOs working on parliament enhance their capabilities and act as a resource.
Source:
Graphic Online