By ABUBAKAR YUSUF

The Director General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof Abubakar Olarenwaju Sulaiman, has said that Ghana’s democratic process is one of the political success stories of Africa that desired replication.

Sulaiman stated this during the visit of a delegation from the Parliament of Ghana/commission to his office in Abuja led by the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia.

He said the success story was the record of multi-party elections since 1992 adjudged free, fair and acceptable by all major political parties in Ghana.

The former Minister of National Planning maintained that he is encouraged by the growth of Ghana's parliament, both in legislative and oversight functions.

The NILDS Director General expressed delight on the long standing relationship between Nigerian and Ghana in the area of parliamentary engagements.

He assured the Ghana delegates that in spite of the COVID that ravaged the globe and its gradual winding down, the capacity building activities, exchange of resource persons and expertise, continuing education for MPs, Parliamentary staffs to enhance professionalism of the critical staffs of the National Assembly in Nigeria would remain.

He praised the working relationship between Nigeria and Ghana, particularly during the change of democratic leadership in Nigeria from the ruling party to the opposition party in 2015.

Sulaiman asked for the continuous collaboration of the two countries to ensure sane democratic consolidation.

“In view of my academic background, I wish to first note that Ghana’s democratization is one of the political success stories in Africa, with a record of successive multi-party elections since 1992 most of whom have been adjudged free, fair and accepted by all major parties.

“I am particularly delighted to note the long standing relationship between the institute and parliament of Ghana. Delegations of the Parliament have visited the National Assembly and the Institute on several occasions,” he said.

“In 2015, when the opposition (All Progressives Congress) APC took over power at the centre, we organized a retreat for members of the opposition on how to play opposition effectively."

The Head of the 10-member delegate from the parliamentary Service Board of Ghana, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, said they are in Nigeria on a working visit and to familiarize with parliamentary activities practicable in Nigeria.

He said Ghana’s parliamentary service board is undergoing a major reorganisation and Nigeria as a sister country is expected to play a leading role towards it's success.

The delegates Chairman expressed his excitement over the prompt response of Nigeria agencies in quest for more knowledge and experience.