The Parliament of Ghana in partnership with STAR-Ghana Foundation is set to organize a Speaker’s Breakfast Forum on Monday, November 20, 2023.
The Breakfast Forum which is expected to take place at the Alisa Hotel in Accra would be under the theme “Thirty Years of Parliamentary Democracy under the Fourth Republic: Reflection on Citizens Engagement and the Way Forward” is to commemorate the 30 years of uninterrupted Parliamentary democracy in the Fourth Republic and the 5th Anniversary of STAR-Ghana.
In recognition of the need for a more effective engagement with the public and a wider participation in the work of parliament, having ranked first in Africa, in the open Parliament initiative, the Parliament of Ghana has decided to set up a Citizen’s Bureau within the Parliamentary Service.
The Bureau will work to institutionalize Parliament-citizens’ engagement through partnerships with the media, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)and think tanks.
In a statement by the media relations of Parliament, the Bureau will develop and maintain a database of CSOs and think tanks operating in Ghana and allow the media and CSOs to easily share information and research findings with Parliament whilst accessing relevant information from Parliament to support their work.
The Bureau will also facilitate capacity-building for the CSOs on how Parliament works, and channels for collaborations with Parliament.
With Parliament representing the people, the Speaker’s Breakfast Forum will consolidate the relationship between Parliament and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and explore new ways of working together for accountable governance.
At the Forum, the Rt. Hon. Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin will deliver the keynote address.
The guest speakers are Professor Akosua Darkwah from the University of Ghana and Dr.Rasheed Draman from, the Africa Centre for Parliamentary Studies.
In all 150 participants drawn from Parliament, CSOs, Think Tanks, Trade Unions, and the Media among others are expected to attend the forum.