If Parliament loses public trust, democracy suffers – Osae-Kwapong warns of damage to oversight
Democracy and Development Fellow with CDD-Ghana, Dr John Osae-Kwapong, has warned that continued allegations of misconduct involving MPs could further erode public confidence in Parliament and weaken its ability to perform its constitutional role.
Democracy and Development Fellow Dr John Osae-Kwapong expressed concern that ongoing allegations of misconduct among MPs could further diminish public faith in Parliament and hinder its capacity to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities. On Joy News’ PM Express, Dr Osae-Kwapong emphasized that these allegations should not be viewed merely as individual actions, but as broader concerns about how Ghanaians view Parliament as the primary representative body in the nation’s democratic framework.
He highlighted public opinion data indicating that Parliament already struggles with low trust and widespread perceptions of corruption. "When an institution like Parliament is grappling with a crisis of confidence, marked by low trust and perceptions of corruption, such allegations can exacerbate existing negative views among citizens," he stated.
Dr Osae-Kwapong warned that if these controversies persist, they could lead to a breakdown of public trust, potentially causing citizens to lose complete faith in the institution. This scenario would have severe consequences for Ghana’s democracy, as Parliament is tasked with holding the executive accountable, providing oversight, and enacting legislation on behalf of the people.
Dr Osae-Kwapong stressed that the current weak standing of Parliament in the eyes of the public makes this situation particularly troubling.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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