A high-powered delegation from the National Assembly Service led by the Clerk of National Assembly, Kalipha MM Mbye, on Monday began a weeklong benchmarking visit to the Parliament of Ghana aimed at exchanging best practices and enhancing parliamentary administration and procedures.
The delegation is engaging with their Ghanaian counterparts, including the Clerk to Parliament and key officials from various parliamentary departments.
The visit focused on several critical areas of parliamentary operations where Ghana has developed notable expertise. Discussions and observations centred on the efficiency of the legislative process, the functioning and support systems for parliamentary committees, strategies for enhancing public engagement and outreach, the integration of technology in parliamentary work, and the overall administrative framework supporting the legislature.
Speaking on the purpose of the visit, the Clerk, Kalipha MM Mbye, stated that Ghana’s Parliament is recognised for its robust democratic institutions and progressive approaches to parliamentary business. “We came to learn firsthand about the mechanisms that drive their success, particularly in areas like administrative effectiveness and leveraging technology for greater transparency and accessibility,” he said.
The visit will accord the Clerk and delegation the opportunity to hold detailed working sessions with directorates responsible for legislation, research, finance, and public affairs, and toured parliamentary facilities.
The exchange is also expected to provide valuable insights into how the Parliament of Ghana manages its legislative calendar, facilitates debate, ensures oversight, and connects with its citizens.
The Deputy Clerk in-charge of Legislative Management Services, Camillo Pwamang, on behalf of the Clerk to Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror welcomed the initiative, emphasizing the importance of peer learning among parliamentary institutions.
“We are delighted to host the delegation from the National Assembly of The Gambia. Sharing our experiences and also learning from their perspectives is crucial for the continuous growth and strengthening of parliamentary democracy across the continent and beyond,” Mr Pwamang remarked.
The benchmarking visit is expected to inform potential reforms and improvements in the operational efficiency and effectiveness of National Assembly Service, drawing on the lessons learned from Ghana’s parliamentary experience. Both sides expressed optimism for continued collaboration and knowledge sharing in the future.
