Mp Eric Edem Agbana advocates for deeper citizen engagement in parliamentary democracy

Mr Eric Edem Agbana, Member of Parliament for Ketu North, has emphasised the critical role of citizen participation in strengthening Ghana’s parliamentary democracy. Speaking at a Public Forum during Parliament’s Practice and Procedure Week, themed “How Citizens Engage with Parliament”, he highlighted practical ways to enhance democratic accountability.

Mr Agbana shared the success of his Quarterly Accountability Series in Ketu North, a model fostering transparency, feedback, and trust between elected representatives and constituents. He noted that democracy thrives when citizens are genuinely involved in governance, stating, “The strength of any democracy rests not only on the quality of laws we pass but on the depth of trust between the people and their Parliament.”

He warned that when citizen engagement becomes superficial, distrust and apathy take hold. “Our citizens are not spectators in governance; they are the sovereigns from whom our legitimacy flows,” he stressed.

Mr Agbana called for citizen engagement to be central to parliamentary operations rather than an afterthought and commended Parliament for providing platforms for open dialogue. He advocated for institutionalising participatory governance tools and community-focused accountability initiatives to ensure Parliament remains a true reflection of the people’s voice.