Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim Warns of Declining Public Trust in Parliament, Urges Stronger Decentralisation Efforts

Local Government Minister Ahmed Ibrahim has expressed concern over what he describes as a growing decline in public trust in Parliament of Ghana, citing recent findings from the CDD-Ghana Index. According to him, the data shows a worrying dip in citizens’ confidence in the nation’s legislative arm, signalling an urgent need for reforms.

The Minister made these remarks at the Speaker’s Breakfast Forum, held under the theme “Parliamentary Decentralisation: Bringing Parliament Closer to the People.” He explained that the key to reversing the downward trend in public trust lies in strengthening parliamentary decentralisation—an approach he believes will bridge the gap between citizens and their elected representatives.

Mr. Ibrahim emphasized that decentralising the operations of Parliament would make legislative processes more accessible and understandable to communities across the country. By bringing debates, committee engagements, and accountability mechanisms closer to the grassroots, Parliament would demonstrate greater transparency and responsiveness, thereby restoring faith in its work.

He further urged stakeholders to support ongoing efforts to widen citizen participation in governance, stressing that an inclusive Parliament is a credible Parliament.

The forum brought together lawmakers, governance experts, and civil society leaders to discuss reforms aimed at aligning legislative work more closely with the needs and expectations of the Ghanaian people.