Love Brewed In Parliament

A CHINESE fairy tale is unfolding in Ghana's parliament. It is a tale of love being brewed between the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

To some, it is tasty like aluguntugui and to others, it is bitter and shocking. There are 275 Members of Parliament (MPs). Majority in the House number 152, while the Minority's number is 123, with Doe Adjaho as the Speaker.

One interesting thing in Ghana's legislature is that there is always a 'unionization,' understanding, compromise and sympathy – whenever there is a common interest to benefit both sides of the House. On the other hand, hell could break loose and in some instances – as in the regime of the late President John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills – red cards and black funeral clothes could be flying in Parliament House during State of the Nation's Address.

Currently, there is controversy over a $16 million set of furniture purchased for use in the house. Three groups of parliamentarians, comprising members from both political parties, travelled to China, Italy and the United Kingdom to purchase a foreign set of furniture. Travel and hotel expenses are yet to be disclosed.

In an era when we are all yearning for 'made in Ghana' goods and initiatives – which could create job opportunities – our MPs are craving for foreign items for their comfort. While President John Dramani Mahama is pushing hard for the promotion of 'made in Ghana' goods, our representatives in the august House are all out for foreign items.

Many Ghanaians have condemned the attitude of our MPs but the question people are asking is: Would our local furniture manufacturers be able to provide all the furniture and accessories to go along with them? Many Ghanaians are displeased with the decision and the excuse by the leadership of parliament that the local manufacturers could not have delivered on time.

According to the concerned Ghanaians, Agorwu, Kpogas, and many of our local furniture companies could have taken advantage of such a contract to sharpen their skills and employ more hands.

This attitude by our legislators has brought disappointment and disillusionment to many Ghanaians. According to news reports, the Italian furniture are already in town, ready to be fixed for the Job 600 (State House) offices. Why not revamp the State Construction Corporation (SCC), Public Works Department (PWD) and other construction-related state establishments to create job opportunities in the country? The youth are eager and willing to work but our selfish ways of doing things is not giving them any opportunity.

Get to the prison yards and majority of prisoners are youth, caged for armed robbery.  If there were legitimate jobs for our youth to engage in, maybe the prisons would not have been the place of abode for a number of them. What are we building for our future leaders? The current crop of leaders is disappointing them. This attitude must stop immediately.

Among the constitutional bodies, parliament is one institution that should help build a solid future for the young ones who, out of desperation, are roaming the streets aimlessly. Parliament should lead in the bid to alter this distributive economy. It should be seen as doing all within its power to revamp our ailing economy rather than destabilizing it with the expensive taste for foreign goods. The more we jettison our locally manufactured goods and patronize foreign ones, the more we help those countries where the goods come from to create jobs for their citizens.

As the Catholic Bishops have said at their last Catholic Bishops Congress, 'We must all resolve never to engage in acts of bribery and corruption or condone same.' The legislature must lead this crusade.

Currently, there are controversies over some special furniture, upholsteries, speakers and other ICT accessories which have attracted all sorts of criticisms all over Ghana.

Parliament must live by example and stop the romance that will not benefit majority of the populace.

 By Rose Asamoah