Second meeting of Parliament ends

Accra, July 28, GNA - The second meeting of the second session of the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic ended on Friday, an hour to mid-night.

During its 43 sittings, a number of bills including the Millennium Challenge Account, Whistleblower, Persons With Disability, and the Criminal Code (Amendment) were passed. Government also sought the approval of the House during the meeting to spend 4.3 trillion cedis as a supplementary item to the main budget. Mr Justice Daniel Francis Annan, First Speaker of the Fourth Parliament died during the meeting. Members also delayed their daily business on July 21, 2006 to attend a state funeral of Professor Emeritus Albert Adu Boahen.

In a closing remarks, Mr Ebenezer Begyina Sekyi Hughes, Speaker commended members for their diligence and commitment to duty. He said members had put the national interest above their personal consideration, adding that; "I wish all a restful vacation and I hope you will all return refreshed."

Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, Majority Leader said Parliament would be represented at the signing ceremony of the Millennium Challenge Account in the United States of America with the composition three NPP Members of Parliament, two NDC members, one from the PNC and one from the CPP, which would eventually turn out to be Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister for Public Sector Reform.

He urged members to patronize the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region meeting being hosted by Parliament of Ghana.

Mr Alban Bagin, Minority Leader said Parliament had to enlarge the frontiers of democracy "on critical pillars of petition and participation."

He said this belief had always driven the Minority in their quest for a true democracy for Ghana.