Gender Rights Advocacy CSOs and WRGs in Ghana receive training on the Legislative Process of the Parliament of Ghana

One of the core functions of parliament is its representative role, articulating and representing the views of citizens especially in the law-making process and advocating for the felt needs of the citizenry.

It is within this context that the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) and Its partner the Parliamentary Centre, with funding from Global Affairs Canada organised a two-day training workshop for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Women’s Rights Groups (WRGs) on approaches for effective engagement in the legislative and oversight processes of the Parliament of Ghana.

The training, which took place in Accra from 20-21 June, 2023, attracted participants from ABANTU for Development, SEND Ghana, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), the Alliance for African Women Initiative (AFAWI), Leadership and Advocacy for Women in Africa (LAWA) and the Ghana Federation of Disability (GFD).

The first day of the training, facilitated by Becky Enyonam Ahadzi, Esq. focused on the CSO’s understanding of the legislative process – the stages bills have to go through before becoming law.

The participants were also sensitised on the function and structure of parliament, the functions, types of committees and their specific roles; how CSOs can effectively engage parliament during the law-making process and the opportunities for integrating gender issues in the legislative process, among others.

She stressed the need for CSOs and Women’s Rights Groups to intensify their lobbying skills, engage parliament on specific issues, share research findings, develop relations with MPs, and do follow up on matters of interest after such issues are laid before parliament.

Dr Gifty Adika, National Parliamentary Advisor and Team Leader on Inclusive Legislatures for Gender-Responsive Policies (ILGRP) project said “the ILGRP project aims at enhancing the knowledge of CSOs and Women’s Rights Advocacy Groups working on parliamentary-related issues and their capacities to engage effectively with parliament.

ILGRP has a substantial focus on engaging CSOs as well as individual women and girls and having their voices taken into account in the decision-making process.”

She added that “ultimately, these experiences will inform the development and institutionalisation of practices and tools aimed at making the Parliament’s legislative and oversight work more inclusive and gender-responsive”.

The training was a blend of lectures, group works and experience-sharing sessions. Participants also had the opportunity to understudy cases of successful policy reform processes, and were taught how to win the support of parliamentarians in gender responsive advocacy.

When asked how participants were going to use the knowledge and skills gained at the training, Ms. Agnes Titriku, the Parliamentary Liaison and Project Officer, ILGRP said the primary focus is to provide participants skills and tools and opportunities for them to effectively engage parliament and parliamentarians.

According to her, inputs from WRGs/CSOs help to strengthen and enhance legislation, hence the need to sensitise them on the procedures of enacting laws, especially women’s rights issues.

She told EXPRESS NEWS TV that the training would empower the CSOs to get more involved in the parliamentary processes around legislation and oversight in the country.