New MPs Hopeful Of Informed Debates

Some new Members of Parliament have expressed the belief that the Sixth Parliament will see improvement in scope and informed debate as well as consensus building and compromises.

According to them, the era where Parliament was seen as partisan had given way to building bridges between the majority and the minority.

NDC MP for Chiana-Paga, Mr Abuga Pele, told the Daily Graphic that one of his aspiration in the new Parliament would be to see a review of the formula for the allocation of the District Assemblies Common Fund that would make communities rely on their own efforts before they were rewarded with the fund.

"The present system where communities have to wait or lobby central government for the allocation of resources is dwarfing creativity," Mr Abuga Pele said.

The NPP MP for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA), Dr Nana Ato Arthur, for his part said, his first meeting was insightful since he met friends from both sides of the house.

"Although its relatively early, I can foresee exciting and challenging times ahead with both sides forging ahead in national cohesion", Dr Arthur said.

He said although Parliament was a legislative body, he intended using his position as an MP to develop Elmina through sister-city partnerships.

The PNC MP for Builsa North, Mr Alhassan Azong, who faulted the previous leadership of Parliament for not placing him on an effective committee, did not rule out lobbying for selection on any of the effective committees.

According to him, the process where MPs were asked to submit curriculum vita for placement on committees that reflected their expertise and experience was not effective as lobbying had overridden those principles.

"It is committees that make MPs effective, thus, if you are put on a committee that meets once in a year to draw a budget, as in the case of the Judiciary Committee that draws an annual budget for the judiciary, your constituents see you as ineffective,” Mr Azong said.

He added that his expertise in the area of works and housing, local governance, water and sanitation would be beneficial for him to serve on any of the committees that dealt with such matters.

Mr Azong also tasked the general public to disabuse their minds from the fact that it was only when their parties were in power that they could benefit from development.

"There is statutory funding for all MPs to access for the development of their constituencies and when managed well could bring development to their local communities and the country as a whole," he said.

Mr Azong was hopeful that the Sixth Parliament would live up to the expectation of Ghanaians owing to the calibre of elected members, who had so far demonstrated their willingness to rise above partisanship.

Meanwhile, parliament adjourned sitting on Tuesday to deliberate on the formula for the composition of membership of committees.

The leadership will also consider the for action of parliamentary delegations and other parliamentary groupings and associations.

The Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, adjourned the sitting to allow for the formation of the committees which are vital and an integral part of parliamentary proceedings and processes.

With the commencement of the formation, intense lobbying for membership of committees that carry clout and power, such as the Appointments, Public Accounts, Finance as well as Works and Housing have began in earnest.