Accra, Ghana – Minister for Education and Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has called for stronger parliamentary oversight, questioning whether lawmakers are doing enough to scrutinise major government decisions and safeguard public resources.
Speaking at the Governance Series organised by Three Reports in collaboration with the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, Mr. Iddrisu stressed that Parliament must strengthen its oversight responsibilities rather than approving significant government commitments without rigorous examination.
He expressed concern over the speed with which Parliament sometimes approves large financial agreements, citing the approval of a US$1 billion loan as an example. According to him, such decisions require thorough scrutiny to ensure they serve the national interest and provide value for money.
“Parliament must not rush through approvals. We have a constitutional responsibility to interrogate government proposals thoroughly before granting our approval,” he said.
The Education Minister noted that effective parliamentary oversight is essential to promoting accountability, preventing waste, and ensuring that taxpayers receive value from public expenditure.
He pointed to infrastructure projects, particularly road construction, as an area where stronger oversight is urgently needed.
“We award a road contract. We pay the contractor based on the value of the road,” he said.
“How come that the road is repaired, and in three or six months, that same road becomes porous? Is that value for money? And who is to demand that for the public?”
Mr. Iddrisu argued that Parliament must hold contractors and government agencies accountable for the quality of projects executed with public funds.
Beyond Parliament, he also urged citizens to play a more active role in demanding transparency and accountability from public officials.
According to him, strengthening democratic institutions and increasing public participation are critical to tackling corruption and improving governance in Ghana.
“The best way to deal with it is transparency. So citizens must be awake,” he concluded.
