Strengthening local capacity and promoting good governance and democracy is a vital part of The IEA’s mission. Thus, in 1992, when Ghana began to operate a liberal democracy, The Institute saw the urgent need for a competence building programme in Parliament. All the organs of democratic governance had suffered a severe lack of development, during the long years of military rule in Ghana. Knowledge of issues as well as accessible information, were scarce.
The IEA then initiated a training and competence building programme in Parliament. The programme consisted of two components:
• Building Local Capacity for Policy Dialogue in Ghana through
• Technical Workshops
• Roundtable Discussions for Members of Parliament and opinion leaders.
The Legislative Assistants Programme
The over-riding objective of each component of the Programme was to help strengthen and enhance the productivity of Members of Parliament to play a more effective and efficient role in the democratic The workshops also address issues such as Parliamentary accountability and transparency within government. Resource persons invited have included World Bank officials, IEA Fellows, Parliamentary members, from the Universities in Ghana (Professors) and the Canadian High Commissioner.
The workshops consist of presentations by international establishments on economic reform, and small group discussion during which the resource person can review and discuss the lectures.
The Parliamentary Centre of Canada, The World Bank and The Institute together organize bi-annual workshops on the budget process for the Finance and Public Accounts Committees of the Parliament of Ghana. Members of the Public Accounts and Finance Committees attend separate workshops each lasting three or four days.
Election Observation
Evening Encounters
Ghana Political Parties Program
IEA Election Programme
Joint Symposia
Peace Broadcast
Presidential Debate
Town Hall Meetings
Voter Education Programme
Women Training And Marketing Programme
WARPPP