Lack of RTI limits Parliamentary Oversight responsibilities - Kunbuor

Accra, April 27, GNA - Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor, Deputy Minister of Health on Monday said the state secrecy laws, rules of confidentiality in public administration jeopardizes parliamentary oversight responsibilities.

"In the absence of the Right to Information (RTI) legislation, existence of such laws in the status books hinder efforts to enhance transparency in good governance," Dr. Kunbuor stated at a two-day capacity building workshop for members of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior in Accra.

The workshop was organized by the African Security Dialogue and Research (ASDR) in collaboration with the British High Commission was on the theme;

"Role of Parliament in managing National Security - Overview of past performance and lessons for the future".

He said apart from these hindering laws, the seemingly myth surrounding security issues and political party loyalty, Members of Parliamentary Committee often adopt a self-censorship posture which cannot be blamed on an over bearing executive arm of government. "The Committee has never on its own invoked its powers under article 103 to investigate or inquire into a matter on the security sector and has been prevented from doing so".

He said, in spite of these laws there are still a number of generic challenges which make parliamentary oversight, especially over the security sector in most democracies including Ghana problematic. Dr. Kunbuor identified some of the problematic issues as the highly complex and technical nature of the security sector - budgeting, weapons procurement, arms control and readiness of military units and the emergence of security blocs as well as peacekeeping commitments further complicates issues of parliamentary oversight.

He said a system of check and balances is needed to counterbalance the executive power as the security sector deals with of the state's core task."a state without parliamentary control of its security should at best, be deemed an unfinished or democracy in the making". The Deputy Minister, who is a Member of Parliament for Kunbugu Constituency said the stability and capacity of Parliamentarians in the Defence and Interior Select Committee is another factor that hinders their oversight roles.

"For instance in the present Committee only a few members are relatively old members. Most members with years of experience have either left parliament or have moved on to other committees. "The house if currently confronted with an entirely new membership of committee members who are yet to learn how to climb the slippery ropes of the security sector," he said.

Major General Nii Carl Coleman (RTD) ASDR Associate Executive Director emphasis that the workshop was to make up for the shortcomings of the parliamentary committees and promote face-to-face dialogue between Parliamentarians and key institutions responsible for security in the country.

He said the Parliamentarians were schooled on "Role of Parliament in managing national security," "The National Security System - Towards a National Security Policy," "Agency roles and perspective," "role institutions in regulating oversight for security institutions," and "the way forward in building the capacity of parliament to play its role in managing the country's security."