Dr Chambas applauded for objective analysis of sessional address

Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, NDC-Bimbila, won the admiration of Members of Parliament when he used tact and diplomacy to analyse the President's sessional address to the House delivered on February 15 on the state of the nation and his vision for the year.

Dr Chambas described the address as having a "heavy dose of realism" but cautioned that the welfare of the ordinary Ghanaian should precede any other interest.

He said the various parties may have their own ways of addressing issues but all must endeavour to unite when it comes to the implementation of foreign policy.

The member, who was previously deputy foreign minister and deputy minister of Education in the NDC government, said the President has pledged his personal commitment the ECOWAS fast track approach, the ideals of OAU and the UN that constitute the main thrust of the nation's foreign policy.

On Education, he said President Kufuor was pragmatic in capturing the problems of the sector, adding that the solutions prescribed in the sessional address are not different from those of the educational reforms.

"This reinforces the fact that this government will not abandon NDC projects."

Mr Joseph Darko Mensah, NPP-Okaikoi South, out of excitement to praise Dr Chambas, flouted the rules of the house when he used the "point of order" privilege.

"Mr Speaker, the member has displayed a high sense of maturity and shown commitment to nationalism."

New members, mostly unfamiliar with some of the rules of the house, clapped instead of acknowledging with the usual slogan "hear, hear".

Mr Joseph Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, was heckled when, in an apparent reaction to earlier criticisms of the sessional address by the Minority, said "no matter how well the cockroach dances, it will never please the hen".

Mr Kosi Kedem, NDC-Hohoe-South, then asked him to dance the cockroach dance since it was not a familiar one.

Dr William Boakye Akoto, NPP-Birim North, a former regular visitor to the Ghanaweb say it loud forum, had his share of the heckling when he said "a fool is the one who does not do better than his father".

The First Deputy Speaker, Mr Freddie Blay, who presided, made a slip when he gave a member one-and-a-half hours instead of one-and a-half minutes to wind up his argument. He later corrected himself.