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,[…]

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[…]

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[…]

Ghana passes Social Protection Bill 2025 Into Law

Parliament has passed the Social Protection Bill 2025 to establish the Social Protection Fund to provide a legal framework for social protection programmes to improve accessibility and equity in the delivery of social services to the underprivileged in society. This comes after strong opposition from the Minority in Parliament on Wednesday, July 30, who cited the lack[…]

Parliament Approves Four (4) Deputy Ministers

On Tuesday, July 29, 2025, Parliament adopted the report of the Appointments Committee and approved four nominations for appointment as Deputy Ministers. The Committee by consensus recommended to the House for the approval of Hon. Dorcas Affo-Toffey, MP for Jomoro, Deputy Minister for Transport, Hon. James Gyakye Quayson, MP for Assin North, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs,[…]

NDC’s Parliamentary super majority poses risks if misused – ACEPA

The Executive Director of the African Centre for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Rasheed Draman, has cautioned the Majority in Parliament against abusing their two-thirds dominance. He warned that such control could lead to constitutional overreach, rubber-stamping of legislation, and the marginalization of minority voices. His remarks come in the wake of Ewurabena Aubynn’s swearing-in as the new Member[…]