A high-powered Parliamentary Delegation from the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana has concluded a three-day official visit to the Chamber of Deputies of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

The visit, which took place from Tuesday, 7th to Thursday, 9th October 2025, was aimed at fostering closer collaboration between the two legislatures and exploring best practices in data-driven governance, open parliament initiatives, and evidence-based lawmaking.

The delegation was led by the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Bernard Ahiafor, and included the Majority Leader,Mr Mahama Ayariga, the Minority Leader,Mr. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, and the Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror.

Other key officials from Parliament and the Ghana Statistical Service formed part of the team, alongside representatives of the Ghana Embassy in Brasília.

The official visit sought to deepen understanding of Brazil’s experience in integrating statistical data into the legislative process, enhancing digital governance, and promoting transparency and citizen participation through open parliament frameworks.

Discussions also focused on strengthening parliamentary research systems and capacity-building for evidence-based policymaking.

The delegation commenced its engagements on Tuesday, 7th October, with an official welcome at the Chamber of Deputies’ Cloakroom.

They met with Congressman Carlos Veras, First Secretary of the Chamber, and Congressman Pedro Uczai, First Deputy Chairman of the Special National Commission on Brazil’s Ten-Year Education Plan (2024–2034), who shared insights on the use of technical data and statistics in legislative drafting.

Later in the afternoon, the Ghanaian lawmakers held meetings with officials from the Office of the General Counsel, including Mr. Evande Carvalho, Mr. Aurélio Palos, Mr. Graciano Mendes, and Mr. Miguel Nuno, to discuss Brazil’s legislative consultancy framework and budget analysis systems.

A final meeting for the day was held with Congressman Félix Mendonça Júnior, Secretary for International Relations, focusing on avenues for enhanced cooperation between Ghana and Brazil’s legislative institutions.

On Wednesday, 8th October, the delegation undertook a guided tour of the Brazilian National Congress, visiting the Salão Negro, Salão Verde, and the Plenary Chambers, where they gained firsthand insight into Brazil’s legislative architecture.

Subsequently, they met with the Secretary of Social Communication, Congressman Marx Beltrão, and his team, including Mr. Cláudio Araújo and Mr. Jorge Paulo, to discuss innovations in parliamentary communication, citizen participation, and media transparency.

The afternoon session was dedicated to digital transformation, featuring a meeting with the Innovation and Information Technology Board at the Centro Tecnológico Norte.

The Ghanaian delegation interacted with Madam Patrícia Gomes, Mr. Dênis Ribeiro, and Mr. Olival Barboza Jr., exploring cybersecurity, data management, and IT infrastructure systems supporting legislative work in Brazil.

On the final day, Thursday, 9th October, the delegation visited the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) — Brazil’s national statistics body.

Discussions centred on the use of official statistics to support policymaking, parliamentary oversight, and national development planning.

The Ghanaian delegation was accompanied by H.E. Nii Amasah Namoale, Ghana’s Ambassador to Brazil, and senior Embassy officials.

Cultural and culinary exchanges were also part of the visit, with the team sampling Brazilian cuisine at notable restaurants such as Fausto & Manoel, Restaurante do Lago, and Steak Bull.

The visit concluded with a sightseeing tour of the Federal District on Friday, 10th October, organised by the International Relations Secretariat of the DF, capped by a farewell dinner hosted by the Head of Mission.

The visit marks a significant milestone in Ghana–Brazil relations, particularly in the area of parliamentary diplomacy and legislative capacity-building.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promoting shared learning, digital transformation, and inclusive governance across the Global South.

As Hon. Bernard Ahiafor noted, “This exchange is not only about legislative learning; it is about building bridges between Africa and Latin America through shared commitment to democracy, transparency, and data-driven governance.”