News:
May 24, 2026
Ghana’s Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, has disclosed that his objective is to make Ghana’s Parliament the most open legislature in the world. Currently ranked second in Africa, the House is working diligently to improve its standing.
Speaking at a media engagement with the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC), Ayariga commended journalists for their role in capturing and disseminating parliamentary proceedings to constituents. He noted that with the introduction of live coverage, future evaluations could see Ghana’s ratings improve.
“Our objective is to make Ghana’s Parliament the most open Parliament,” Ayariga said.
The Majority Leader also provided an update on pending legislation. He explained that several bills are outstanding, with new ones coming in. Among them are the National Defence University Bill and the Community Service Bill.
He acknowledged delays in the Human Family Values Bill, attributing them to disagreements among MPs over penalties. “Some members think the penalties should include community service for certain categories of offences,” he said.
Ayariga further highlighted the country’s prison congestion crisis. “We spend more money on a person who steals a fowl than the cost of the fowl itself,” he stated. “By the time the person comes out, they are a well-prepared criminal because of the conditions in prison.”
The Interior Minister, he noted, is pushing for the Community Service Bill to allow courts to impose community service instead of prison terms for minor offences. “Once that bill is passed, it will allow amendments to the Human Family Values Bill to include community service as a penalty,” Ayariga explained.
In addition, he revealed that the Finance Minister is expected to appear before the House soon to make a statement on Ghana’s successful completion of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout programme.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com