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Parliament holds forum at Koforidua
Koforidua, Jan. 16, Ghanadot/GNA
- Members of Parliament (MPs) believe that the demands on
them to provide developmental projects are likely to
compromise their role as lawmakers and representatives of
the people.
Majority Chief Whip Okerchiri Adusah held that if MPs were
to provide developmental projects, then they would have to
be lobbying Ministers of State of the various ministries for
such projects.
However, he said, MPs were expected to supervise the
performance of the ministers and their ministries and so by
lobbying them for favours, the MPs could end up compromising
their role.
He said this at a forum organized by Parliament in
collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in
Koforidua on Tuesday.
The forum was organized under the theme: “Strengthening the
Legislature through public engagement.” It was attended by
institutional heads, including public servants and others
from different sectors of the economy.
In support of the view expressed by Mr Adusah, Minority
Chief Whip, Mr Enock Teye Mensah, said various developmental
funds given to the MPs were just small fractions, as
compared to large amounts of funds given to the District
Assemblies.
He said allotments made to MPs could not be used for major
projects but only to support community initiated projects,
adding that even the monies were kept in an account by the
District Assemblies with no signature rights to the MP.
The Minority Leader of Parliament, Mr Alban S. K. Bagbin,
observed that democratic governance had moved away from the
concept of “Her Majesty’s loyal opposition, to that of
responsible or constructive opposition” where the opposition
had the responsibility to be fair in the criticism of
government policies.
He said minority members had the right to dissent publicly
from government policies and decisions.
Mr Bagbin said the opposition had an equal responsibility as
the government to protect, defend and uphold the
constitutional order, the rule of law and the peace and
stability of the nation.
He said if democracy was to be preserved as a viable mode of
governance, the opposition must fearlessly perform its role,
adding that it could do so only when it was recognized and
accorded rights to enable it act responsibly.
Mr Bagbin observed that in a true democratic system, the
opposition was as important as the government and it was an
indispensable component of Parliamentary democracy.
In a welcoming address, the Speaker of Parliament, Mr
Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes, said the forum was organised to
provide the opportunity for all Ghanaians to build on and
consolidate Parliamentary democracy in the country.
He said for Parliamentary democracy to thrive, Ghanaians
must understand and engage with Parliament, adding that the
more the citizens understand and relate to parliament, the
better Parliamentary democracy would evolve.
GNA
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