Parliament and its Last-Minute Business

Since the inception of Parliament in January, 1993, this current Parliament is the eighth in succession.

This is the Parliament that has interesting connotations, approval from the majority of the citizens and political watchers about its shape and form and descriptions.

Firstly, the Speaker comes from the stock of the opposition or the Minority Party. Very rare.

Secondly, both the leading political parties have similar number of seats with only an independent Member. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) 137 and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 137.

Even though a Cape Coast High Court few days ago gave a judgment declaring the Assin North seat vacant after a resident petitioned it on the eligibility of the Member of Parliament, until the Appeal’s Court declares otherwise, the NDC has the same number of seats with its rival. The party has also filed a stay of execution at the same court waiting for its ruling.

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Thirdly, the current Parliament has so far seen many of its Members piloting private Members’ Bills. This is very encouraging as it was rare in the previous Parliaments. The controversial one on the LGBTQ+ etc had just been read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for consideration.

Proponents of the Bill are from both sides of the House. I also applaud the Speaker for his commitment to ensure that the Bill is passed before the end of the session.

I am encouraging our legislators to do more in this aspect of their roles.

The second meeting of the first session of the eighth Parliament came to a close on Friday, Friday, August 6, 2021. As usual, the House was inundated with many programs of the Executive.

This practice of the  Executive, not only in Akufo-Addo’s regime but almost all the regimes that preceded it in this 4th Republic are guilty of this.

From Rawlings, Kufour, Atta Mills, John Mahama and now Nana Addo. They wait until the eleventh hour, a day or two for the House to rise then numerous Bills, loan agreements, reports from various committees, legislative instruments etc. are pushed in the throat of Parliament for consideration and passage.

Sadly, our Members of Parliament (MPs) will not have enough time to scrutinize all the items and the outcome in most instances is shoddy work.

The loser is our nation Ghana and its citizens.

It is gratifying to know that both the Executive and the Legislature have promised to work together for the development of our nascent Democracy and for our people.

I will therefore appeal to them to rectify this serious anomaly of ‘last minute pressure’.

Parliament should reject such late items it has to consider. Reason is as cited in above.

Shoddy job on the part of our MPs will not be entertained by the electorates, voters and other civil society organizations.

Parliament is the citadel of our Democracy and its existence cannot be underestimated.

I congratulate the Rt. Hon Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin and his two Deputies for smartly manning the House. The Hon. Members and the Ministers who have all contributed in the smooth functioning of the House.

To the mute Members, I am curiously observing you.

Please speak for your constituents. Ask questions, make statements, intensify your lobbying skills and participate actively in the work of the House.

By Ahmed Osumanu Halid

Nima 441