News · Richard Boateng Opoku-Ofori
Parliamentary Committee calls for increased support for Independent Constitutional Bodies
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Independent Constitutional Bodies has called for increased investment in independent constitutional bodies to enable them to effectively carry out their mandates.
The call was made during a monitoring visit to Koforidua in the Eastern Region, where members of the Committee engaged regional offices of the Electoral Commission (EC), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Audit Service.
The Committee’s visit formed part of efforts to obtain first-hand information on the operations, achievements and challenges of the decentralised offices of the institutions and gather recommendations to strengthen Parliament’s oversight role.
Speaking after the engagements, the Chairman of the Committee and Member of Parliament for Tema East, Isaac Ashai Odamtten, commended the heads of the institutions for their dedication despite operating under limited resources.
"Parliament will consider the concerns raised by the institutions during future budget discussions and advocate for increased logistical and human resource support,"he stated.
The Committee also met the Eastern Regional Director of the Electoral Commission, John Appiah Baffoe, who disclosed that plans are underway to allow persons who turn eighteen years to register ahead of the regular voter registration exercise scheduled for February next year.
According to him, the initiative is intended to reduce congestion during registration periods and minimise possible political influence and irregularities.
“The move is intended to reduce congestion during registration periods and minimise the possibility of political influence and irregularities,” Mr. Appiah Baffoe explained.
He also highlighted inadequate security at some district offices and called for improved infrastructure to safeguard electoral materials and personnel.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education, Ophelia Ankrah, said the Commission has recorded notable successes despite resource constraints.
She noted that the NCCE has strengthened collaboration with other institutions, enabling it to combine expertise and make better use of its limited resources.
“We have strengthened collaboration with other institutions, allowing us to combine expertise and make better use of our limited resources,” Madam Ankrah said.
She, however, identified inadequate funding, limited logistics and understaffing as major challenges affecting the Commission’s operations.
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Independent Constitutional Bodies is responsible for overseeing institutions established under the Constitution to promote accountability, transparency and good governance.
The Committee said the engagements are helping Parliament better understand the challenges facing the institutions at the regional and district levels and identify areas that require support to improve their operations.
Following the Eastern Regional visit, the Committee is expected to continue similar consultations with institutions in the Volta Region.