Speaker urge govt to take work of Parliament serious

The Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey on Tuesday urged Ministers and the Executive to recognise the work of Parliament as their primary business than secondary.

He also advised members of Parliament to take the business of the House as full time one and that they have a duty to perform for those who elected them.

"We all have the responsibility to the nation and please let the work of Parliament be your primary concern and others be secondary. You can only engage in other businesses only on condition with the permission of the Speaker."

Mr Ala Adjetey gave the advice after members have expressed their sentiments on the failure of the Minister of Food and Agriculture who had been scheduled to answer questions on Tuesday, which was advertised in the Business Statement read to House last week and low attendance in the House.

Mr Edward Salia, NDC-Jirapa said the House was in its third sitting after the resumption of its third meeting but the trend of light business had not changed.

He said the situation would discourage members who had to travel far from their constituencies and only to attend the business of Parliament and there was not much work to be done.

Mr. Steve Akorli, NDC-Ho East said the issue was a very serious one and was affecting the image of Parliament which had already reached its lowest ebb.

He said the Business Committee of the Parliament was not businesslike, saying that for it to slate the Minister of Food and Agriculture to answer questions only "to tell the House this morning that the answers were not available was not acceptable and we cannot allow this things to go on this way to enjoy the support of the public."

Mr Stephen Kwaku Balado Manu, NPP-Ahafo Ano South countered the accusation and said members should not portray Parliament as if it was not working.

He said Parliament have legislative, oversight and monitoring functions and that members do not only perform their official businesses only in the House, adding that as at the time the matter was being discussed six committees have been scheduled to meet.

Mr M.A. Seidu, NDC-Wa Central said a way should be found to let Parliament function efficiently instead of imputing ill-motives on either the Executive or committees of the House for not bringing their reports for discussions.