Parliament to hold closed sittings fortnightly

Accra, Oct. 22, GNA - The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey on Wednesday suggested holding of closed meetings of the Committee of the Whole fortnightly to deliberate and educate members on pertinent national and international issues.

The Speaker said this was necessary because most often, the reports from various committees were not sufficient enough for Members to understand and leaves a lot of question marks on the actual business that took place.

The Speaker said when Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, Leader of Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament moved the Motion for the adoption of the Report of the Parliamentary Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament Second Ordinary Session 2002 held in Abuja from September 3 to 13 2002.

The Report did not go down well with the members who expressed various concerns about its inadequacy and did not allow members to make informed contributions and this prompted the Speaker to call for a meeting of the Committee of the Whole to hold further discussions. Mr Bonsu said the Community Parliament deliberated on presentations by economic and financial institutions, the West African Monetary Agency, ratification of Protocols and Conventions, application of the Community levy and security situations.

He said the session also discussed relations with Inter-parliamentary institutions and international organizations, attended the last OAU Summit and the inaugural summit of the African Union in Durban, South Africa.

The leader of delegation said the meeting discussed relations with non-governmental organizations such as contacts with National Democratic Institute and Friedrich Ebert Foundation, assistance to Parliament in conducting studies and pursuing conflict management, resolution and prevention.

The Committee meetings presented reports on finance and budget, tourism, culture and handicraft, education, training, Employment, Youth and Sports as well as Laws, Regulations, Legal and Judicial affairs, Human Rights and Free Movement of Persons, Foreign Affairs, Co-operation and Security and Women and Children's affairs.

Alhaji Ali Amadu, NDC-Atebubu South expressed dissatisfaction about the absence of all the members except one, adding that it is necessary for delegates to interact and inform members before and after their meetings.

He suggested that the Hansard of the ECOWAS Parliament should be provided to members to enable them to come abreast with happenings at their meetings.

Mr Abuga Pele, NDC- Chiana- Paga said it seemed the ECOWAS Parliament exists only as a formality and has not concerned itself with pertinent issues such as the NEPAD and common currency as well as other socio-economic problems facing the peoples of the sub-region. He said since the aim of the ECOWAS Parliament is to forge African unity, members of parliaments should be offered the opportunity to contribute to their deliberations.

Mr John Mahama, NDC- Bole cautioned against the introduction of bi-partisan views on issues concerning the ECOWAS Parliament, adding that it is necessary to ensure that meaningful instruments are made to protect the peoples of the sub-region.

Ms. Akua Sena Dansua, NDC- North Dayi said the tenure of members to the ECOWAS Parliament needs to be reconsidered so that no member takes his tenure for granted and that the report should depict events that took place.

Mr Kosi Kedem, NDC- Hohoe South said the time has come to determine the status of the ECOWAS Parliament and questioned whether the members were there as representatives or delegates of their parliaments.

He said Parliament should come out with guidelines as to how decisions taken at the ECOWAS Parliament would be implemented. Mrs Grace Coleman, NPP- Effiduase-Asokore said members only have hazy ideas of what transpires at the ECOWAS Parliament and that the House deserves to know better all that happens there to make informed suggestions.