Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, Speaker of Parliament, on Tuesday called for a closer collaboration between Parliament and United Nations agencies working in the country to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.

"Though we have over the years chalked some successes in the fields of health, education and infrastructural development, a lot more still need to be done to meet the requirements of the MDGs".

Mrs Bamford-Addo made this call when the leadership of Parliament met managers and representatives of various agencies of the United Nations to map out areas of future collaboration towards the achievement of goals.

Some of the agencies that attended the programme include World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and International Labour Organization (ILO).

The Speaker said Ghana had advanced in mainstreaming gender issues by promoting more women to head sensitive entities like Speaker of Parliament, Chief Justice, Vice Chancellor of a University among others and said with time the disparity that existed between men and
women would be a thing of the past.

She said the passage of bills such as National Health Insurance, Whistle Blowers, Financial Accountability and Disability was a positive measure towards the achievement of the MDGs.

Mr Dauda Toure, Resident Coordinator of UNDP said periodic meetings between the two houses would enhance the smooth implementation of development programmes that could move the country from her current position in terms of development.

Mr Alban Bagbin, Majority Leader mentioned lacked of office accommodation for members of parliament and inadequate budgetary allocation as some of the major challenges that faced the house.

"Even some Ministries take more budgetary allocation than Parliament hat is bedeviled with numerous financial constraints," he noted.


Source: GNA