FEATURE: New Parliament, a resource for effective governance?

The equation of the composition of Ghana's new Parliament is such that both the minority and majority political parties have almost an equal number of members, a clear indication that there will be a balance of power in the House.

Out of the 200 Parliamentary seats, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has 100, National Democratic Congress (NDC) 92, People's National Convention (PNC) 3, Convention People's Party (CPP) 1, and four Independent members. This is not the first time Ghana is going through such a political experience. In the Parliament of the Third Republic, out of the 140 seats, the ruling People's National Party (PNP) had 71 while the minority parties, led by the Popular Front Party (PFP), had 69.

There was no absolute majority in Parliament, a situation that is similar to what pertains in the current Parliament. But certainly history has been made. For the first time in the country's political history there has been a swapping of roles between the NDC, the incumbent government that had the majority in Parliament, and the NPP, the main opposition party, which has taken the front seat.

This development has brought about different perceptions of a cross-section of Ghanaians on how our democracy would look like, at least for the next four years. While some political observers and members of the public consider the lack of an absolute majority in the new parliament as an unhealthy antecedent of our democratic growth, others view it as a sign of good governance for Ghanaians who are charting a functional democracy.

Mr. Rex Owusu-Ansah, Clerk of Parliament, in an interview with Radio Universe, in Accra, said an absolute majority in Parliament is not good for an infant democracy, especially in a developing country like Ghana. He explained that, quite often, any political party with such an advantage suppresses the minority parties thereby having a leeway in all its initiatives.

Mr. Owusu-Ansah noted that the new Parliament would necessarily have to resort to dialogue in arriving at decisions. Squadron Leader Clend Mawuku Sowu, a former outspoken Member of Parliament (MP) for Anlo, in an interview with the Daily Graphic, contented, however, that the new Parliament could be a barrier to effective governance due to lack of an absolute majority by the NPP.

He therefore called for the active co-operation of all political parties in the Third Parliament of the Fourth Republic with the view to developing and sustaining consensus in the supreme national interest. The role of the opposition parties in a democracy cannot be over-emphasised, as it is the embryo of true democracy.

So important was the opposition in the Parliament of the Second Republic of Ghana that its leader was entitled to two-thirds of the Prime Minister's salary. In Britain, for instance, it is called Her Majesty's opposition and accorded the due recognition and respect.

Parliament will necessarily have to accommodate the opposition to ensure efficiency most especially when there is no absolute majority in the House. For instance Article 104 (1), of the 1992 constitution, spelt out that except otherwise stated, matters in parliament shall be determined by the votes of the majority of members present and voting with at least half of all the members present.

The constitution also stipulates that Parliament may by resolution supported by the votes of a majority of all the members of Parliament authorise the government to enter into an agreement for the granting of a loan out of any public fund or public account.

It specifically states that, apart from the entrenched clause, amendment of non-entrenched provisions, upon acceptance of the bill by Parliament, may only be presented to the President for his assent after it has been approved at the second and third reading in Parliament and accepted by least two-thirds of all the Members of Parliament.

There is some unfinished business of Parliament. Notable, among them is the passing into law of a number of bills, including those of the trademarks, computer crime, fisheries, courts, banking and the national science and technology policy, which have reached various stages in Parliament.

Despite the shift in roles and positions by the NPP and NDC, which are the major political parties in Parliament, they are expected to co-operate with each another to accomplish this task to facilitate the socio-economic development of the country.

On the other hand, it behoves Parliament to discuss issues of national concern critically and dispassionately so that, at the end of the day, the national interest would be supreme.

Decisions concerning certain key sectors such as defence, foreign affairs and finance are crucial to national development and should be discussed devoid of partisan politics.

Parliament should be guided by 'object lesson' in the discharge of its functions. It is worth recounting that in 1979 when the opposition parties, led by the (PFP), rejected the budget proposal of the PNP government in Parliament, it was later accepted after a consensus had been reached among both sides of the house.

Significantly, there is the need for a vibrant opposition of minority parties to articulate the views of the individual and minority in the society and to check the government of the day against abuse of power or certain excesses.

The NDC, as the out-going government and the main opposition party now, undoubtedly wields a lot of experience and is capable of keeping the NPP on its toes to ensure accountability and transparency.

This could help give meaning to the principle of separation of powers, checks and balances, which is all that democracy stands for. The fact that the new government has a tradition of liberal democracy and that the majority of the electorate voted it into power does not necessarily imply that Ghana has attained true democracy.

To William Lecky (1838-1903), a British historian, who advocated liberal democracy, "The tyranny of the majority is of all types of tyranny, that which in the condition of modern life is most to be feared, and against which should be the chief object of wise statesmen to provide."

Experience has shown that, under certain circumstances, the rule of the majority could result in dictatorship and there is therefore the need for a vibrant force of opposition parties in parliament, among other things, to assist in averting this tendency.

But the opposition parties in parliament should not over-simplify this notion and identify themselves as a group of individuals who would persistently and generally oppose the policies and measurers of the NPP.

Rather, it should see eye to eye with the majority to ensure that the government machinery does not suffer a major setback or grind to a halt. Even though it is an essential ingredient of our current democratic process, it does not mean that artificial or superficial opposition should be created.

The late Tom Mboya of Kenya, reflected on the role of the opposition in a democracy and remarked: "Opposition parties must develop not because textbooks say so, but as a normal and natural process of individual freedom of speech and freedom to criticise government and a right of the people to return a government of their choice by the use of the ballot."

The government however, should not expect that the opposition parties would compromise with it on all issues or policies brought before Parliament for discussion or approval.

In fact, the price that the opposition parties might pay for not effectively playing their role as a watchdog on the government is to inherit socio-economic and even administrative problems if it comes to power.

The NDC has ostensibly declared that it will re-organise the party to bounce back to power in the general elections in 2004, and might use Parliament as the most effective platform to achieve its objective.

Mr. Kenneth Dzirasah (NDC, Tongu), second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, in an interview with Top Radio, in Accra, said the new Parliament would be tough and that the NPP should be prepared to tolerate the opposition parties, which will employ conventional methods such as walkouts and boycotts to ensure that the right thing is done in the House.

He said if this occurs, it should not be misconstrued to mean retaliation for the protests the NPP embarked upon when it was the main opposition party in the last Parliament, but as part of the power game and hoped that this would assist in developing our infant democracy.

As if in fulfilment of a prophesy, the President's nominees for ministerial positions who have assumed some duties of substantive ministers sparked off a debate between the majority and minority parties during proceedings of the House.

Whilst the majority approved of the action of the nominees and explained that they were representatives of the President and should therefore carry out his directives, the minority said the move was unconstitutional and must be stopped.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (NPP-Abuakwa), one of the nominees, said they were representatives of the President and there was nothing wrong with what they had been doing since their activities were within the confines of the law.

The minority was not convinced with the explanation and argued that until the Appointments Committee had vetted and approved the nominees, they could not perform the duties reserved for ministers.

The NDC, an alternative government in waiting, has 'shadow ministers' for the various portfolios and is therefore expected to be abreast with government business. It therefore has a stake in such crucial issues so that clear and proper precedents would be set for the smooth running of government.

Notwithstanding this, it should not be obstructive in its criticism or be inspired by malice or hatred.Government would also need to listen to the opposition parties to ensure survival of true democracy.

It is hoped that the NPP government would enjoy the support of the opposition parties and parliament in general in getting its policies and programmes through.

The Executive, Legislature and Judiciary and other state institutions are aiming at one goal - socio-economic and political development of the country.

But for the new Parliament to be able to live up to expectation, the government would have to address problems that affect the effective discharge of its duties, including the provision of office, library and research support for Members of Parliament (MPs). Government must also provide adequate funds for administering parliament.