Parliament embarks on outreach programme

Gomoa Eshiem (C/R), March 16, GNA - Parliament has embarked on an outreach programme to explain its work to the people. Addressing a forum at Gomoa Eshiem as part of the programme, Mr James Kugblenu, Director of the Public Affairs Unit of Parliament, said the intermittent military interventions in the country were due mainly to break in the communication gap among the various arms of the government and the citizenry . "To correct this shortcoming, the Parliament of the Fourth Republic has decided to bring Parliament close to the people through public fora," Mr Kugblenu stated. He said the outreach programme would also promote sustainable development since it would make administration transparent. Mr Kugblenu supported by Mr Joe Kingsley Hackman, Member of Parliament for Gomoa West explained the work done in Parliament and parliamentary procedures to the gathering. Mr Hackman said, as an MP, his first responsibility was an allegiance to the State, to his constituents and to the party on whose ticket he was elected. He said he was elected to serve the people, so they should feel free to approach him with their needs to enable him to forward them to the appropriate quarters. The MP said, every Member of Parliament had a share in the District Assembly Common Fund, the HIPC Fund and the GETFUND for some minor development projects in his or her constituency. He explained what he had used his share of the funds for. Mr Hackman said the greater part of his funds went into scholarship scheme for needy but brilliant students to further their education in Secondary and Tertiary Institutions. A similar forum was held at Apam Senior High School where the students were advised to take interest in the work of Parliament. Mr Kugblenu invited the students to pay visits to Parliament to study its procedure.