CSOs want Speaker Bagbin to include a Woman on the Parliamentary Service Board

A network of civil society groups in parliamentary monitoring – the Ghana Parliamentary Monitoring Organisations Network (GPMON) says it is disappointed in the failure of Speaker Bagbin and his advisory committee to appoint a female onto the Parliamentary Service Board (PSB).

The group says even though the Speaker of Parliament has not flouted any law with the all-male appointment onto the board, it is their view that the current composition of the PSB does not reflect the House and society at large, nor does it help in the course of promoting a more inclusive society. They argued that the Speaker and his advisory board should have capitalized on the outcome of the 2020 parliamentary elections which saw a 15% increment in women representation in parliament to make a good case for women.

In a press statement on Wednesday, signed by all nine organizations of the network, the GPMON called on the Speaker and the leadership of Parliament to reconsider the recommendation of an all–male membership to the Board. This, according to them will help the Board to “benefit from the knowledge, experiences and contributions of women who represent the voice of more than half of the entire population of the country”.

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Below is the full statement:

NO WOMANON THEPARLIAMENTARY SERVICE BOARD

The Ghana Parliamentary Monitoring Organisations Network (GPMON) congratulate the Parliament of Ghana for appointing the Parliamentary Service Board in accordance with the Parliamentary Service Act (Act 460). We however, observe with great disappointment, the failure by the Speaker, Right Honourable Alban S.K. Bagbin and the advisory committee to appoint, at least, one woman to serve on the Parliamentary Service Board.

The Parliamentary Service Act (Act 460) provides for a six–member Board comprising the Speaker, the Clerk, and four other members appointed by the Speaker upon the advice of a committee set up by Parliament. The Board performs critical functions which are very important to the effective functioning of the legislature. These functions include:general control of the management of the Service on matters of policy, and promoting the welfare of Members of Parliament (MPs) and staff.

Available records indicate that the Parliamentary Service Boards of the last decade or more, had a female member. Considering that the 2020 parliamentary elections saw marginal improvement in women representation, with approximately 15% of all MPs being women, the move by the leadership of Parliament to constitute an all–male Parliamentary Service Board can only be described as unfortunate. Even though Rt. Hon. Speaker has not flouted the Parliamentary Service Act, we hold the view that the current composition of the Parliamentary Service Board neither reflects the House and society at large, nor helps the course of promoting a more inclusive society.

We, therefore, call on the Rt. Hon. Speaker and the leadership of Parliament to reconsider the advisory committee’s recommendation of an all–male membership to the Board. This will help the Board to benefit from the knowledge, experiences and contributions of women who represent the voice of more than half of the entire population of the country. Again, including women in such a high decision–making body is a key indicator of an open society and will send the signal that our legislature is poised to promote inclusion and enhance effective participation of women in all units of the Legislature’s work. Finally, it is only fair that advice on policies, programmes and initiatives that would be recommended by the Parliamentary Service Board to the Speaker, benefit from insights of women.

Signed:

Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD–Ghana)

Parliamentary Network Africa (PNAfrica)

Ghana Anti–Corruption Coalition (GACC)

STAR–Ghana Foundation

Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII)

Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF)

Odekro

Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF)

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