The Ghana Commission for UNESCO Bill, 2022, has been passed by Parliament to aid the nation in achieving the objectives of UNESCO.
This bill aims to establish the Ghana Commission for UNESCO, tasked with carrying out UNESCO’s goals, which include promoting peace, eradicating poverty, sustainable development, and intercultural dialogue.
UNESCO employs National Commissions as cooperating bodies within member states to accomplish its objectives.
Article VII of UNESCO’s Constitution mandates member states to create National Commissions, ideally representative of government and principal bodies, to engage with educational, scientific, and cultural matters related to the organization’s work.
Deputy Minister for Education overseeing Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET), introduced the motion for Parliament to pass the Ghana Commission for UNESCO Bill.
Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Mr Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah, reported that the bill’s passage would elevate the Ghana Commission for UNESCO to a full-fledged government agency, funded by the Consolidated Fund and other sources per Section 38 of the bill.
The Commission’s finances are designated for various purposes, including the payment of annual UNESCO-assessed contributions, which are obligatory for member states.
The assessment scale aligns with United Nations contributions, adjusted for membership differences.
Additional funding considerations involve running the Secretariat of Ghana’s Permanent Delegation to UNESCO in Paris, encompassing office space, compensation, services, and capital expenses.
The committee stressed the importance of funding for building capacity, orienting government agencies, implementing UNESCO projects, and covering costs for Ghana’s delegation to UNESCO intergovernmental meetings.
The committee emphasized that prioritized and protected funding is crucial for Ghana to fulfill its international obligations under the UNESCO Convention.
Ghana National Commission for UNESCO (Ghana NATCOM) originated as a UNESCO Affairs Committee in 1953 during Ghana’s Associate Membership. Full membership was achieved on April 11, 1958.
Cabinet sanctioned the committee’s reformation under the new name “Ghana National Commission for UNESCO.”