Parliament failed Ghanaians in 2015 – Law Prof

Professor of law, H. Kwasi Prempeh, has said Parliament did not take the Ghanaian at heart, in the performance of its duties in 2015, saying the totality of work done by the House last year did not inure to the benefit of Ghanaians.

Prof Prempeh, in an interview with Accra News Friday January 8, 2016 said Parliament continued to suffer from Executive interference, an action he said flew in the face of the principle of separation of powers.

He said among the three arms of government – the executive, legislature, and judiciary – the executive often found it difficult meddling in the work of the judiciary, but have little difficulty interfering in the affairs of the legislature.

“That’s why the Minority continued to have their say, and the Majority still have their way,” he explained.

“In 2015, whatever bill the president brought to parliament, whether it was good or otherwise, it was passed; the Majority, particularly pushing it through,” Prof Prempeh added.

Parliament had approved many loan deals, he said, without conducting proper due diligence, and also failing to monitor the implementation of any Act or agreement the House passed.

He cited the example of the Finance Ministry’s proposal before parliament for the approval of an increase in petroleum products. He said the Ministry, despite getting the green light from the legislature to effect a 5% rise, decided to unilaterally implement a 27% hike. “So our parliamentarians, once they approve an agreement, do not follow up on its implementation,” Prof Prempeh stated.

He stopped short of grading parliament, but said: “Going by the role they played towards entrenching democratic governance and improving the well-being of Ghanaians, they didn’t do well; they didn’t think about Ghanaians at all.”