Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung@ 40 in Ghana Challenges of Parliament of the Fourth Republic In its Enhanced Strategic Plan for 2006-2009 Parliament identifies the following as key challenges: • Improved performance and management of Parliament's legislative functions – Private Members Bills are a very important vehicle that Back Benchers may employ to address some pertinent problems affecting their local communities, but which might not be considered a priority on Government's legislative programme. Exercise of this privilege currently seems to be hibernating as a result of restrictive interpretation of some constitutional provisions. This poses a major challenge that could be addressed through the establishment of mechanisms that would ensure the introduction of Private Members Bills either independently of the public purse or by effecting constitutional amendments to make the cost thereof a direct charge on the public purse. • Making Parliament more relevant to the needs of the public is yet another major challenge considering the fact that the mandate of the MP spans across representation, conducting of outreach programs and servicing of constituents on location. The establishment of parliamentary centers will to a large extent furnish a platform for a more relaxed Parliament cum civil society engagement outside the four walls of the precincts of Parliament devoid of bureaucratic candor. • Enhancing the performance of Parliament's oversight functions also poses a great challenge against the backdrop of the apparent executive-legislative fusion that is occasioned by the constitutional requirement that majority of cabinet ministers be appointed from the membership of Parliament. To mitigate the apprehension associated with such a fusion, initiatives for strengthening Select Committees are imperative. 18