By: Valentia Tetteh
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Information and Communications has embarked on a working tour of agencies under its supervision as part of its oversight responsibilities.
The first stop was at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT (AITI-KACE). During interactions with management, the Deputy Ranking Member on the Committee, Charles Asuako Owiredu, proposed that the Centre be considered a degree-awarding institution. He explained that such an initiative would enable professionals who undergo training there to graduate with recognised certificates, thereby boosting the Centre’s relevance and contribution to national development.
At the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMET), officials appealed to the Committee to advocate for the agency to be elevated to Authority status. According to management, this would empower GMET to enforce regulations, enhance its financial independence, and retain skilled personnel who are often poached by higher-paying institutions. The agency also raised concerns about staff constraints and the lack of modern equipment, which continue to hamper their ability to deliver accurate and timely forecasts.
Speaking to the media after the engagement, the Chairman of the Committee and Member of Parliament for Bunkpurugu, Dr. Bandim Lamangin Abed-Nego, underscored the critical importance of equipping GMET with modern tools and technology.
“GMET’s operations cut across all sectors of the economy, from agriculture to aviation. It is therefore essential that the agency is given the support it needs to function effectively,”
Dr. Abed-Nego stated. He assured that the Committee would recommend to the government the elevation of GMET to Authority status to strengthen its capacity.
The Committee’s final stop was at the Data Protection Commission, where officials briefed members on the Commission’s key achievements, ongoing projects, and pressing challenges.
The oversight tour, according to the Committee, was aimed at assessing the progress, challenges, and needs of agencies within its mandate, while exploring ways to support them in delivering on their objectives.
