NPP MPs will help repeal obnoxious laws

THE Leader of Government Business, Mr Joseph Henry Mensah, has given the assurance that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) would strive unceasingly to help repeal all obnoxious laws that have, over the decades, immobilised and intimidated Ghanaians from expressing their candid opinions on how the country should be efficiently managed.

He said the NPP MPs would, on the other hand, enact laws that would promote a congenial environment under which the people would have the opportunity to develop their talents and also contribute positively towards national reconstruction efforts.

Mr Mensah, who was speaking at the national delegates congress of the party at the University of Ghana in Accra last Saturday, said the NPP MPs with the assistance of their allies, have also taken decisive steps towards reconciling the nation.

According to Mr Mensah, the NPP MPs have set in motion a deeper level of national reconciliation process, stressing that the bill setting up a National Reconciliation Commission will be taken up by them when Parliament reconvenes in October.

He stressed the need for the nation to heal the wounds of the past, and dismissed the assertion that the exercise is intended to harass and intimidate opponents of the government.

Mr Mensah said the MPs are also determined to enact laws that would ensure a qualitative improvement in the educational sector adding “We are poised to revise the educational system to offer equal opportunities and ensure that the talents of children are not wasted".

Commenting on the results of BECE students, the minister described as ironical the situation of those who could not qualify to enter secondary schools and stressed that the country must find ways to tap the talents of such unfortunate students.

Mr Mensah said since the Kufuor administration is committed to good governance, MPs of the party would, during the term of office of the government, initiate laws that would deepen the decentralisation process to enable the people, especially those in the rural communities, to participate in the running of their localities.

He said the MPs would also not shirk their responsibilities to ensure that rural health schemes are put in place to improve conditions of health of the people which he described as deplorable.

Mr Mensah said the MPs are also determined to assist the leadership of the party to devise strategies that would ensure that the party wins 125 seats in the next parliamentary elections scheduled for 2004.

He commended NPP MPs for their excellent performance during the last parliamentary session stressing that " those who are in the House for the first time have adjusted themselves quickly to its operations."