Speaker inaugurates memorabilia shop

Accra, Aug. 6, GNA - The Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey on Friday said military interventions had not allowed Parliament to enjoy a sustained period of life to enable it to provide some facilities, which other Parliaments of long standing had taken for granted.

Speaking at the inauguration of a Parliamentary Souvenir Shop at the main entrance foyer in the Chamber of the House, the Speaker said: "We now have peace in our hands long enough to enable us to establish a Parliamentary Souvenir shop.

He said Ghanaian Parliamentarians, who have visited to other parts of the world, had always been impressed by the existence of parliamentary souvenir and memorabilia shops, where visitors could buy. Alhaji Mohammad Mumuni (NDC-Kumbungu) said although the past had seen the rude interruptions of Parliament with the subsequent imprisonment sometimes of Members of Parliament, the last 12 years had seen the growth a of a stable democracy, which should now be further strengthened.

He said Parliament was a place of pride and a bulwark of democratic governance and the souvenir shop would serve as a bridge between visitors and the House thus bringing governance closer to the people. Alhaji Mumuni commended the Speaker for his initiative in establishing the Judicial Committee of the House, which had a close working relationship with the Judicial Service to address matters of mutual concern between the two bodies.

Items on display at the shop include cups and diaries embossed with the Parliamentary logo, which projects the mace against the background of the Chamber Block of the House combining the colour of the national flag.

Meanwhile, expansion work is going on in the Chamber of the House to accommodate the 230 Members expected on January 7, 2004. The Chamber has been virtually emptied of tables and chairs and workers are busy trying to meet the deadline for next year.