Speaker calls for closer collaboration between Parliament and UN Agencies

Accra, Nov. 18, GNA - Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, Speaker of Parliament, on Tuesday

called for a closer collaboration between Parliament and United Nations agencies working in

the country to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. "Though we have over the years chalked some successes in the fields of health, education

and infrastructural development, a lot more still need to be done to meet the requirements of

the MDGs". Mrs Bamford-Addo made this call when the leadership of Parliament met managers and

representatives of various agencies of the United Nations to map out areas of future

collaboration towards the achievement of Goals. Some of the agencies that attended the programme include World Food Programme

(WFP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Health Organization

(WHO), United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and International Labour

Organization (ILO). The Speaker said Ghana had advanced in mainstreaming gender issues by promoting more

women to head sensitive entities like Speaker of Parliament, Chief Justice, Vice Chancellor of

a University among others and said with time the disparity that existed between men and

women would be a thing of the past. She said the passage of bills such as National Health Insurance, Whistle Blowers, Financial

Accountability, Disability bills were all positive measures towards the achievement of MDGs. Mr Dauda Toure, Resident Coordinator of UNDP said periodic meetings between the two

houses would enhance the smooth implementation of development programmes that could

move the country from her current position in terms of development. Mr Alban Bagbin, Majority Leader mentioned lacked of office accommodation for

members of parliament and inadequate budgetary allocation as some of the major challenges

that faced the house. "Even some Ministries take more budgetary allocation than Parliament that is bedevilled

with numerous financial constraints," he noted. 18 Nov. 09