Forum has created platform for meaningful interaction - Speaker

Accra, Dec. 21, GNA - Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes, Speaker of Parliament on Wednesday said the Speaker's Breakfast Forum had provided a good platform for interaction on issues of governance. He said through the organisation of such forums Parliament and the citizenry had had the opportunity to think through issues of national importance.

Mr Sekyi Hughes was opening the 19th Speaker's Breakfast Forum in Parliament House, Accra.

He said: "It is deemed proper that we all especially the representatives of the people create an avenue for constant dialogue with the people of Ghana to advance the course of meaningful democracy." The Speaker said the acceptance of democratic governance by the people reflected their hatred of all forms of government that undermined the respect for fundamental human rights. He paid homage to Mr Daniel Francis Annan, the First Speaker of the Fourth Republic, for instituting the forum. Mr Daouda Toure, UN/UNDP Resident Representative, commended Ghana for establishing unique institutions and processes to advance the course of democracy.

He said the Speaker's Breakfast Forum, the Chief Justice Forum and the People's Assembly were processes that other African countries could adopt to enhance their democracies.