Ghana’s Parliament must undergo a comprehensive structural reform and operate with moral courage to eliminate practices that fuel public perceptions of corruption, according to Edem Senanu, Chairperson of the African Union Advisory Board Against Corruption (AUABC).

 

Speaking as a featured panelist on JoyNews’ PM Express during a discussion titled "Parliament & The Corruption Question," Senanu argued that public skepticism towards lawmakers stems from deep-rooted institutional practices, inadequate parliamentary funding, and a culture of reflexive partisan solidarity.

​Investigating Allegations Against High Offices

Senanu emphasized that leadership in public service requires untainted integrity to rebuild public trust. He highlighted the need to safeguard key constitutional positions—specifically the office of the Minority Leader—from baseless political smears, while insisting that any formal accusations must be fully investigated.

​"We don't want a situation where somebody can just get up and make an allegation against the office of the Minority Leader," Senanu said, calling it one of the three most important offices in Parliament's structure. "People should not just get up and make an allegation. But if they do, I think we need to get to the bottom of it... to make sure that the truth is established."

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A critical concern raised by Senanu involves how Parliament handles lawmaking engagements with government ministries and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). Currently, external groups sponsoring bills often pay to take lawmakers out of Parliament for retreats, accommodations, and working sessions because Parliament’s official budget does not cover such costs.

​Senanu warned that forcing external organizations to raise funds to get lawmakers to perform their basic duties creates a dangerous impression of impropriety. He called for an open national dialogue to establish a legitimate, transparent funding framework within Parliament’s official budget, ensuring stakeholder engagements occur cleanly and without suspicion.

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Addressing the political dynamics within the House, Senanu criticized the practice of partisan solidarity, where political caucuses automatically rally around accused members to shield them from prosecution or inquiry. 

Pointing to recent instances—such as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) holding a press conference to back Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin against allegations—Senanu warned that automatically framing investigations as political plots signals to the public that politicians prioritize party interests over ethics and public service.

​Senanu urged parliamentary leadership to use current controversies as a catalyst to examine historical precedents, address structural flaws holistically, and implement transparent oversight mechanisms to restore the institution's credibility.