Parliament goes on recess till January

Accra, Dec. 18, GNA - Parliament on Thursday ended its Third Meeting of the Third Session and went on recess until January 20, 2004. The Speaker, Mr. Peter Ala Adjetey congratulated members for their immense contribution to the smoothness of the work of the house.

He noted that members spent more time in attending committee meetings and the house often remained almost empty, saying that members must resolve that in the next session in the coming year, they would be present in the house to fully represent the interest of their constituents.

Mr. Adjetey reminded members that next year was an election year, adding that it meant that either the majority would maintain, increase or lose their majority.

"When that happens, it will be the greatest test for the maturity or otherwise of our democracy," he said.

The Speaker thanked ministers who took time during the third session to be in the house to contribute to debates and urged other minister to emulate the example of their colleague ministers, saying "minister must take at least one or two hours off their busy schedules everyday to visit and contribute to the work of the house."

Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Felix Owusu-Agyepong noted that the co-operation between the two sides of the house had contributed immensely to its smooth work.

He assured the members that his ministry was in serious talks with government to ensure expeditious implementation of the rehabilitation of the tower block to house the offices, libraries and meeting rooms of parliament.

Mr. Owusu-Agyepong noted that it was unfortunate that the public maintained the perception that parliamentarians did nothing in the interest of the people in that they were often not present in the house. "The public must understand that the work of Parliament includes committee meetings, other meeting outside the house and the chasing of development funds to assist constituents," he said. "It is not fair for the public to judge members on the basis of their presence or absence on the floor of the house."

He said that come next election the ruling NPP government would increase its seats in Parliament, but would be considerate enough to leave enough seats for their colleagues in the minority. Mr. Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader said "while we are preparing to play our role effectively when this Parliament resumes, we are also getting ready to takeover from our colleagues in the majority when we beat them in the next elections."

He noted that one significant achievement of Parliament was to have approved a bill that appointed an auditor to check the entire Audit Service and the Auditor-General's Department.

Mr. Bagbin noted that until the passage of that bill during the third session, that constitutional provision had remained in the law books since 1969, adding that the move was historic and significant. He said the public must be made to understand that the disagreement over policies, programs and other matters on the floor of the house did not in anyway suggest that there was acrimony between members.

He commended the Speaker for his maturity and wisdom in handling the affairs of the house and assured him that if the NDC won the next elections he would retain the position of Speaker of Parliament.