Bring Whistle Blowers Bill

Mr Alban Bagbin, the Minority Leader in Parliament has urged the government to act with dispatch and get the Freedom of Information and the Whistle Blowers Bill to brought before Parliament for enactment.

The Freedom of Information Act, when passed into law, will among others, empower public officials to give out useful information freely to the media while, “the Whistle Blowers Act” seeks to protect people who provide information leading to the detection of corruption.

Mr Bagbin who was speaking in an interview with The Evening News in Accra said the two bills are in custody of the government, which has the sole constitutional prerogative to introduce it in parliament. He said that could only be done after Article 108 (iii) of the constitution is amended.

Mr Bagbin said the article forbids any bill that can commit the government financially from being introduced by the legislature except government. Article 108 (iii) of constitution reads: “Parliament shall not, unless the bill is introduced or the motion is introduced by, or on behalf of the President proceed upon a bill including an amendment to a bill, that, in the opinion of the person presiding, makes provision for any of the following”.

“The payment, issue or withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund, or other public funds of Ghana of any moneys not charged on the Consolidated Fund or any increase in the amount of that payment, issue or withdrawal.” He said the NPP should not only liberate the media physically by repealing the criminal law but should take steps to amend laws admitting private member’s motions.

Contributing, Mr John Mahama, the Minority Spokesperson on Communications, said Parliament would need a certain level of resources to be able to prepare the drafts of private members’ bills.

Unlike the British Parliament, where MPs are well paid with Research Assistants and supporting staff to initiate their own bills, MPs of Ghana’s Parliament do not have offices he said. Mr Mahama said NDC MPs who numbered 92 are compelled to fall on two secretaries within the Minority Secretariat to assist them to prepare Parliamentary documents.

Mr Mahama said who is NDC MP for Bole said drawing up a private members bill involves a huge financial outlay, saying the drafts on the Freedom of Information and the Whistle Blowers Acts for instance, could not have realised without the financial support of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). He said assignment also require experienced researchers and draft men to shape the bills in the suitable form. - The Evening News.