Poverty Driving Child Labour in Ayensuano District

An oversight visit to the Ayensuano District by Members of Parliament and officials from UNICEF Ghana and ACEPA has revealed that poverty and parental neglect are the main causes of child labour and trafficking in the area. The District Chief Executive, Joseph Tawiah Lartey, explained that many children are forced into menial jobs such as selling, farming, […]

Drokrochiwa Chief Rejects Galamsey Bribe

The Chief of Drokrochiwa Dawu in the Eastern Region, Barimah Ogyenhobo Anom, has boldly rejected a bribe from illegal miners who sought permission to operate in his area. Speaking during a community engagement, he emphasized that his duty is to protect the land and the well-being of his people, not to serve personal gain. Barimah Anom condemned[…]

27

Oct

Cybersecurity and Parliaments: Protecting Data and Building Trust in Democracy

By Benedicta Naa Odarkor Ablateye, Communications Officer, ACEPA October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month – a timely reminder that as technology becomes central to governance, cyber resilience is no longer optional. It is now fundamental to maintaining institutional integrity and public confidence. The Growing Threat to Governance Technology is reshaping how parliaments function, improving efficiency, access, and citizen engagement. Yet,[…]

Child labour persists in Ayensuano as over 10,000 children remain out of school

Child labour continues to pose a serious threat to the well-being and future of children in Ghana, with the situation in the Ayensuano District of the Eastern Region described as particularly alarming. Recent data from the Department of Social Welfare at the Ayensuano District Assembly shows that an estimated 10,108 children are currently out of school, many[…]

17

Sep

Women and Youth Rising in Ghana’s Democracy

By Benedicta Naa Odarkor Ablateye, Communications Officer, ACEPA Ghana is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most stable democracies, renowned for its regular elections and peaceful transfers of power. At the heart of this democratic journey is Parliament—the people’s voice, which shapes laws and policies that drive national development. Progress in Women’s and Youth Representation Over the[…]

08

Sep

Social Media and Parliaments: A New Era of Engagement – Lessons for Ghana

By Benedicta Naa Odarkor Ablateye, Communications Officer, ACEPA Not long ago, keeping up with parliamentary proceedings meant tuning into the evening news, waiting for the next day’s newspaper, or physically sitting in the gallery. Today, all it takes is a scroll through your phone. According to the World e-Parliament Report 2024, 98% of parliaments now use social media[…]

01

Sep

Absenteeism in Ghana’s Parliament: The Quiet Crisis Undermining Democracy

By Ubeidat Alhassan (EPL Fellow), ACEPA and Rasheed Draman (ED), ACEPA We voted. They took the oath. We expected them in the chamber – debating, lobbying, and working on our behalf. But too often, the seats are empty. This isn’t just about poor attendance; it’s a silent crisis eroding the foundations of Ghana’s democracy. An Empty Seat,[…]

04

Aug

Parliament Without Parity: Is Ghana Failing its Women?

By Benedicta Naa Odarkor Ablateye, Communications Officer, ACEPA Around the world, women’s representation in parliaments is rising, driven largely by deliberate reforms such as gender quotas, reserved seats, and party-level mandates. Countries like Rwanda, Senegal, and Sierra Leone offer instructive examples of how targeted interventions can change the face of political leadership. In Rwanda, a pioneering quota[…]