Parliamentary Reporters Urged to Go Beyond Chamber Proceedings
Dean of PPC urges reporters to provide in-depth analysis of policies, budgets, and parliamentary proceedings to enhance public understanding.
- Parliamentary reporters must go beyond covering daily proceedings in the Chamber and provide in-depth analysis of policies, bills, and financial documents
- The PPC workshop on Public Financial Management (PFM), supported by the World Bank, aimed to strengthen journalists’ capacity to report accurately on national budgets
- Parliamentary Press Corps leadership emphasized their role as a vital link between Parliament and the public
The Dean of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC), Mr. Simon Agianab, has emphasized that the responsibility of parliamentary reporters extends beyond merely covering daily proceedings in the Chamber.
Mr. Agianab made this point during a capacity-building workshop for the PPC on Public Financial Management (PFM) reporting, aimed at strengthening the media’s role in promoting transparency and accountability in governance.
The workshop, organized by the Parliament of Ghana and sponsored by the World Bank and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), sought to equip parliamentary journalists with deeper knowledge of Ghana’s public financial management framework and improve reporting on national budgets, fiscal policies, and parliamentary oversight.
Under the theme “Role of Parliamentary Press in Strengthening Democracy,” Mr. Agianab, in his opening address, underscored the crucial role of the Press Corps in advancing democracy in Ghana.
He noted that journalists covering Parliament must provide in-depth analysis of policies, bills, and financial documents laid before the House to help citizens better understand government decisions.
Mr. Agianab reaffirmed the Press Corps’ commitment to serving as a vital link between the legislature and the public.
On his part, Mr. David Sebastian Damoah, Director of the Media Relations Department at the Parliament of Ghana, also highlighted the importance of the Parliamentary Press Corps in bridging the gap between Parliament and the citizenry.
He emphasized that reporting on Parliament should not be limited to Chamber activities but must also cover critical national processes, including public financial management, budget scrutiny, and fiscal oversight.
He urged members of the Press Corps to take the training seriously to enhance the accuracy and depth of their reporting on financial governance.
The first session of the workshop was facilitated by Ms. Eva Mends, a PFM Specialist, who delivered a comprehensive presentation on Ghana’s Public Financial Management system. She explained that the PFM system refers to the process through which the government mobilizes, allocates, and manages public resources to support national development.
According to Ms. Mends, a strong PFM framework is essential to ensure that public funds are used efficiently, transparently, and effectively, delivering maximum value to citizens.
Strengthening Accountability Through Better Reporting
The training forms part of ongoing efforts to enhance collaboration between Parliament and the media while improving the capacity of parliamentary journalists to report on complex financial and governance issues.
