|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
elected representatives have the right and responsibility to have
government leaders and officials explain fully what decisions and
actions have been taken and why. First Deputy Speaker of Parliament,
Hon. Ebo Barton Oduro said this at a leadership forum held in Sunyani,
the Brong Ahafo Regional Capital.
The well attended forum was aimed at sensitizing the public on the
activities and the work of the legislature. And under the Theme:
Citizens’ Participation in Parliamentary work: the cornerstone of
Parliamentary Democracy.
Hon. Barton Oduro noted that, Parliament uses a number of mechanisms
to exact accountability from government and they include Parliamentary
Question Time where Ministers of State are summoned before the House
to answer questions filed by MPs. “The Questions are always
expressions of your concerns as constituents and they range from bad
roads to poor educational and health infrastructure among others.”
He added that, Parliament has also instituted an Outreach Programme
where periodically Town Hall meetings are held for members of
districts and communities to interact with their MPs. “The Outreach
programme is to complement the Leadership Forum and to draw Parliament
closer to the people. This is borne out of the belief that the public
should be given opportunity to scrutinize their elected
representatives.”
Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, Majority Learder of Parliament,
said a corollary to Accountability is Transparency and this involves
making sure that the processes of governance and the delivery of
public services are open and accessible to the public. “This also
allows the public to assess the performance of public sector agencies,
including Parliament.”
He also charged the media to professionalize in reporting
parliamentary business.
Hon. Kwaku Agyemang Manu, Member of Parliament for Dormaa Central,
adviced all present to stop hiding behind ‘democracy’ to insult
leaders/state officials. He said the job of an MP is a public service,
and urged the public to support the MPs to achieve a good result.
Nana Bofotia Boa Amponsem II, Krontihene of Sunyani Traditional
Area, adviced that, MPs should not make promises they cannot fufil or
not within their mandate.
By: Kofi Oppong Kyekyeku (KOK)
