Members of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC) are undergoing a capacity-building workshop on Public Financial Management (PFM) reporting, aimed at strengthening the media’s role in promoting transparency and accountability in governance.
The two-day Capacity Building workshop organized by Parliament, the World Bank, the UK Government and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is to equip journalists with deeper knowledge of Ghana’s public financial management framework, covering national budgets, fiscal policies, and parliamentary oversight.
The training is expected to help them improve reporting on complex financial and governance issues, contributing to stronger democratic accountability in Ghana.
The Dean of the Parliamentary Press Corps, Simon Agianab in his welcome address reaffirmed the commitment of the Press Corps to serve as a vital link between the legislature and the public, providing in-depth analysis of policies, bills, and financial documents.
Mr. Agianab, underscored the crucial role played by the Press Corps in advancing democracy in Ghana.
He noted that the responsibility of parliamentary reporters goes beyond covering daily proceedings in the Chamber.
According to him, journalists covering Parliament must also provide in-depth analysis of policies, bills and financial documents laid before the House to help citizens better understand government decisions.
“The Parliamentary Press Corps will continue to serve as the bridge between Parliament and the citizens by ensuring that the work of the House is accurately reported and properly understood by the public,” he stated.
The Director of the Media Relations Department at the Parliament of Ghana, David Sebastian Damoah on his part reiterated the importance of the Parliamentary Press Corps in bridging the gap between Parliament and the citizenry.
He stressed that Parliamentary reporting should not be limited to activities within the Chamber but must extend to critical national processes such as public financial management, budget scrutiny and fiscal oversight.
He therefore 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, who delivered a comprehensive presentation on Ghana’s Public Financial Management system.
Her presentation covered:
An overview of Ghana’s Public Financial Management framework
The national budget cycle
The role of the Ministry of Finance
Parliament’s responsibility in fiscal oversight
Fiscal rules and debt management
Ms. Mends explained that the Public Financial Management system refers to the process through which government mobilizes, allocates and manages public resources to support national development.
According to her, a strong PFM framework is critical for ensuring that public funds are used efficiently, transparently and in ways that deliver 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.
With improved understanding of public financial management processes, journalists are expected to provide more informed and analytical coverage of budgets, fiscal policies and parliamentary oversight, thereby contributing to stronger democratic accountability in Ghana.
