Speaker Bagbin Lauds PNAfrica for Promoting Private Members Bills Initiative
The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has commended Parliamentary Network Africa (PNAfrica), a Civil Society Organization (CSO), for its pivotal role in promoting the Private Members’ Bills regime initiated in Ghana four years ago.
Speaking at a Town Hall meeting and Public Lecture on the Private Member’s Bill at the University of Ghana on Tuesday, July 16, Rt. Hon. Bagbin highlighted the significant benefits and democratic development brought about by the initiative.
He praised PNAfrica and his predecessor, former Speaker Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye, for their efforts in promoting and implementing the initiative in Ghana’s Parliament.
A Private Member’s Bill is proposed legislation introduced by a Member of Parliament (MP) in their capacity as an MP, distinct from a Public Bill introduced by a minister of state on behalf of the executive.
Even though the 1992 Constitution does not expressly confer the power to enact Private Members’ Bills, there are sufficient implied provisions in Articles 93(2), 108, 22(2), and 185(3) that support this power.
In most Commonwealth parliaments, including those of New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, India, Norway, Nigeria, and Kenya, Private Members’ Bills are an entrenched legislative practice.
However, Ghana’s Parliament has historically felt restrained by Article 108(a) of the Constitution in exercising its powers to enact such bills.
Despite these challenges, in June 2020, the Ghanaian Parliament passed a resolution to initiate the passing of Private Members’ Bills.
While lauding the contributions of his predecessor and the CSOs, Speaker Bagbin pointed out the financial challenges that impede the smooth implementation of Private Members’ Bills.
He noted that logistics and financing for these bills have significant cost implications, as bringing stakeholders together for expert deliberations can be expensive.
Additionally, he identified the lack of a robust lobbying system in Ghana, contrasting it with practices in other parts of the world where groups and individuals provide financial support for introducing Private Members’ Bills.
Speaker Bagbin emphasized that these challenges could be mitigated if the introduction and training of MPs on key legislative issues were adequately sponsored.
He stressed that the lack of resources has created hurdles for MPs advocating for their bills.
The Executive Director of PNAfrica, Sammy Obeng, commended Speaker Bagbin for continuing to promote Private Members’ Bills initiated by his predecessor.
Despite the challenges, Obeng assured that PNAfrica would continue to mobilize resources to help its advocacy role in strengthening the legislative arm of the government.
Mr. Obeng also applauded the University of Ghana Student Parliament for nurturing future legislators through its activities.
The panel of lecturers for the event, which also marked the 20th anniversary of the University of Ghana Students Parliament, included a Deputy Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Alfred Atuah Yeboah, Francis Xavier Sosu, MP for Madina, and Dr. Maame Adwoa Gyekye-Jandoh, Senior Lecturer in the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana.
Student parliamentarians from selected tertiary institutions also participated in the lecture organized by PNAfrica.
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Source: Felix Nyaaba // expressnewsghana.com
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