Speaker Charges MPs To Improve Attendance

PARLIAMENT reconvened after recess, with the Speaker, Joyce Bamford-Addo calling on Members of Parliament to improve upon their attendance to the House to enable the legislature complete its business for the meeting.

Welcoming MPs to the second meeting of the fourth session of the fifth parliament of the fourth republic, Justice Bamford-Addo said she would need the cooperation of all members as the work load in the House was enormous.

“The present meeting will be hectic as we have a lot of business to conduct. I trust honourable members will, as usual, continue to give the chair and the leadership the needed cooperation and improve their attendance to the House to enable us complete our business on time”, she urged.

Speaker Bamford-Addo indicated she was aware the MPs did not have the opportunity to rest and invigorate themselves as a result of many pressures, including the just-ended biometric voters’ registration exercise.

“But as exhausting as your work has been, I wish to state that this is all about the call to national service as Members of Parliament and sacrifices associated with it”, she noted.

Meanwhile, the MPs were also welcomed by a highly discomforting stench from all the washrooms in the House as the taps were not running.

The smell emanated from the lavatories and got more intense in the corridor leading to the main chamber and the Speaker’s chamber.

However, workers, particularly the Zoomlion staff, got busy trying to make things more comfortable for the parliamentary proceedings.

Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Sherry Aryitey, was in the House, answering three questions from MPs on environmental pollution.

During this meeting, the House is expected to consider a number of bills. There would be 18 new bills, including the National Youth Employment Bill, National Sports Bill, Public Holiday Amendment Bill, National Youth Bill, Rent Bill and Gold Fund Bill.

Others are the Integrated Aluminum Authority Bill 2012, Tax Revenue Bill, Ghana Civil Aviation Amendment Bill, Public Officers Code of Conduct Bill, Enforcement of Foreign Judgment Bill, Off- shore Petroleum (Health& safety) Bill 2012 and Integrated Aluminum Authority Bill,2012.

Three bills which are at the consideration stage would also be considered, whilst others at the second reading include the Ghana AIDS Commission (amendment) Bill 2012 and Criminal Offences (amendment) Bill.

Bills at the second consideration stage include the Intestate Succession Bill 2009, Public Health Bill, 2011; University of Professional Studies Bill 2011.

Bills at the committee stage are; Electoral Commission (Amendment) Bill 2009, Right to Information Bill, Property Rights Of Spouses Bill 2009; General Health Services Bill, Traditional and Alternative Medicine Bill, Health Professors Regulatory Bodies Bill, Development and Classification of Films Bill 2011 and National Health Insurance Bill 2011.

Instruments to be laid include Noise Regulation, Road Traffic Regulation, 2012; BNI Regulations 2012, National Accreditation Board Regulation 2012.