Deputy Speaker Applauds World Bank, FCDO for Boosting Ghana Parliament’s Capacit
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon Bernard Ahiafor, has commended the World Bank Group and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) for their strong financial and technical support aimed at strengthening Ghana’s parliamentary democracy.
Speaking during a high-level meeting in Parliament on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, Hon. Ahiafor described the partnership as a vital contribution to enhancing the legislative arm’s role in economic and financial governance.
The meeting brought together senior officials of the World Bank, including its Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer, alongside representatives from the FCDO.
Welcoming the delegation on behalf of the Speaker of Parliament, Alban S. K. Bagbin, the Deputy Speaker emphasized that the visit underscored the deepening relationship between Ghana’s Parliament and its development partners.
He noted that the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and sustainable economic development.
Hon. Ahiafor highlighted the impact of the ongoing project, “Building the Capacity of Parliament for Economic and Financial Governance,” describing it as both timely and transformative, particularly in light of Ghana’s current economic challenges.
According to him, the initiative has strengthened the ability of Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff to effectively scrutinize national budgets, oversee public finances, and evaluate economic policies.
He explained that the programme has supported a range of capacity-building activities, including specialised training for key parliamentary committees and the Parliamentary Press Corps, as well as the organisation of high-level policy dialogues involving media, parliamentary leadership, and economic stakeholders.
These interventions, he said, are already improving the quality of fiscal oversight and policy analysis within Parliament.
The Deputy Speaker stressed that Parliament’s constitutional mandate to hold the Executive accountable and safeguard public resources depends heavily on strong institutional and technical capacity.
He added that the support received from the World Bank and FCDO has significantly enhanced Parliament’s ability to fulfil this responsibility.
Addressing Ghana’s broader economic context, Hon. Ahiafor noted that the country continues to face fiscal constraints, debt sustainability pressures, and the need to accelerate inclusive growth.
In such a climate, he said, a well-equipped Parliament is critical to ensuring prudent economic management and long-term resilience.
Looking ahead, he called for an expansion of the partnership to cover additional parliamentary committees and emerging areas such as digital transformation, data management, and continuous professional development for legislators and staff.
He also proposed support for Parliament’s role in overseeing Ghana’s commitments under the Open Government Partnership.
Hon. Ahiafor reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to deepening collaboration with its international partners, expressing confidence that the ongoing engagement would further strengthen democratic governance and deliver tangible benefits for the people of Ghana.
Source: Felix Nyaaba//expressnewsghana.com
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