UNDP donates computers to Parliament

Accra, Sept. 6, GNA - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on Thursday presented 17 Laptop computers to the Leadership of the Majority and Minority Caucuses in Parliament. The computers were part of its 125 million dollar budget support for Parliament this year.

Mr. Dauda Toure, UNDP Resident Representative, said the presentation was to help improve connectivity between the citizens of Ghana and their representatives in Parliament.

He said the UNDP had been supporting Parliament since 2001 in the effort to strengthen Ghana's Democratic governance and most recently, one of such support led to Parliament's adoption of an "Enhanced Strategic Plan".

Mr. Toure said one of the objectives set out in that plan was to strengthen the Information Communication Technology (ICT) backbone to provide MPs with better access to relevant and accurate information and also to provide the public with better access to their political representatives.

"These computers that we are handing over today represent one step in our support to the implementation of that plan," he said. He said the UNDP would support the development of Parliament's internet and intranet sites this year to promote transparency through the provision of up-to-date information on Parliamentary activities and debates to members of the public.

The Speaker of Parliament, Honourable Begina Sekyi-Huges, said from 1997 to date, the UNDP had been partnering the Parliamentary Service to provide institutional and resource capacity support to Parliament. He said from a very humble beginning of a skeletal infrastructure and low public recognition and acceptance, one could say with some level of pride that Parliament was evolving as the pivotal institution of governance in the country and was grateful to the development partners and collaborators for their invaluable assistance.

The Speaker pledged members commitment to ensure an effective utilization of the varied support by performing their mandate to the satisfaction of all.

Mr. John Tia, Minority Chief Whip and Mr Abram Osei-Aiddoo, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs thanked the UNDP for the continuous support for Parliament and pledged to use the items judiciously. The UNDP assisted Parliament to develop its first ever Strategic Plan, which guided the strategic direction of the Legislature until recently when it was reviewed into "Enhanced Strategic Plan". It also sponsored the development of the very first phase of the ICT infrastructure of Parliament and was instrumental in assisting the Speaker in bringing Parliament closer to the people, through the Speaker's Breakfast Forum. 6 Sept. 07