By Parliament has appointed leaders for the various committees to ensure effective oversight on governance and policies in the country.
With committee leaders now in place, Parliament is expected to intensify deliberations on key national issues. This includes the review of government expenditures, policy proposals, and legislative reforms.
The move demonstrates Parliament’s commitment to strengthening oversight and ensuring that national resources are managed effectively for sustainable development.
Some of the key committees include the Finance, Health, Defence and Interior, Education, Public Accounts, Budget and Subsidiary Legislation.
Committees
The Finance Committee is chaired by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo.
The Ranking member is Dr Mohammed Amin Adam. He is the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Karaga and is a former Minister of Finance. The committee is responsible for shaping discussions on the national budget. It also focuses on tax policies and financial regulations.
The Health Committee has the NDC MP for Nabdam, Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane, as chairperson. The NPP MP for Effiduase-Asokore, Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie, serves as the Ranking member. This committee focuses on healthcare policies and programmes.
The Defence and Interior Committee is chaired by NDC MP for Builsa North, James Agalga. The Ranking Member is NPP MP for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour. They will oversee national security and defence matters.
The Education Committee is chaired by the NDC MP for Akatsi North, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe. The Ranking member is the NPP MP for Bosomtwi and a former Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum. They will focus on education policies and programmes.
The Public Accounts Committee includes the NPP MP for Atiwa East. A former Deputy Minister of Finance, Abena Osei-Asare, serves as Chairperson. The NDC MP for Komeda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem, Samuel Atta-Mills, is the Ranking member.
This committee is chaired by an opposition MP to ensure effective oversight and scrutiny of the government’s financial management.
This tradition is rooted in the committee’s mandate to examine the Auditor-General’s report on the country’s public accounts.
Having an opposition MP as chair helps the committee maintain its independence. This ensures impartiality. It allows for more rigorous scrutiny of government spending and financial decisions.
This helps to promote transparency, accountability and good governance.
The Budget Committee is chaired by the NPP MP for Obuasi West, Kwaku Agyemang Kwarteng. It has NDC MP for Bia East, Richard Acheampong, as its Ranking Member.
It is tasked with shaping budget planning and implementation to align with the country’s development goals. The Committee on Subsidiary Legislation has the NPP MP for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah, as Chairman. The NDC MP for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, is the Ranking Member.
Others
Others are Committees on Ways and Means. Back Benchers Business is chaired by the NDC MP for Cape Coast South, Kweku Ricketts-Hagan. The NPP MP for Tema Central, Charles Forson, chairs the latter respectively.
