The Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has urged the Executive to take Parliament’s financing more seriously, stressing the need for a more predictable and adequate funding model to enhance the legislature’s effectiveness.
Addressing the House, the MP described Parliament’s current funding arrangement largely dependent on the discretion of the Executive as “woefully inadequate” for the institution’s legislative, representational, and oversight responsibilities.
Oppong Nkrumah proposed the introduction of a benchmarked percentage of national expenditure dedicated to Parliament, similar to the allocation formula used for other critical sectors such as the District Assemblies Common Fund and the National Health Insurance Fund.
He highlighted the lack of basic tools, functional offices, and dedicated staff in constituencies, noting that MPs often struggle to engage their constituents effectively due to the absence of these essential resources.
The lawmaker emphasized that strengthening Parliament’s oversight role requires properly equipped MPs and adequately funded support systems. He therefore urged the Parliamentary Service to prioritize the effective use of the GHS 1.6 billion allocated to the institution, especially for establishing constituency offices and hiring staff to support MPs’ work.
Oppong Nkrumah insisted that ensuring stable, predictable, and sufficient funding for Parliament is critical to improving governance and deepening democratic accountability across the country.
