Local Government Minister Calls for Constituency Offices for MPs

The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has called for the establishment of constituency offices for all Members of Parliament (MPs), describing it as essential to strengthening Ghana’s decentralisation agenda.

He made the remarks at the Kasoa Traditional Leaders and Stakeholders Forum, an engagement aimed at discussing development issues with residents and local authorities.

Push to Decentralise Parliament

According to the Minister, while the executive and judiciary are adequately represented at the local level through Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and district courts, Parliament lacks a visible presence in constituencies.

“Every MP must get an office in his constituency. If you go to every district, there is a district court, there is also a DCE. The executive is represented by the DCE, the judiciary is represented in the constituency by the district court, but who represents Parliament?” he questioned.

Accessibility Challenges

Mr. Ibrahim stressed that the absence of permanent constituency offices makes it difficult for citizens to access their MPs, especially when they want to contribute to legislative processes or seek representation.

“If you want to feel Parliament in your constituency, who do you go to? That has always been the dream—to decentralise Parliament. Assuming you want a law to be made, how do you locate the MP if he doesn’t have an office in your constituency?” he added.

Enhancing Citizen Participation

The Minister noted that establishing constituency offices would significantly improve accessibility, strengthen citizen engagement, and enhance the responsiveness of lawmakers to the needs of their constituents.

He emphasised that decentralising Parliament is a crucial step toward ensuring inclusive governance and bringing legislative processes closer to the people.