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General News of Monday, November 13, 2006

Source: GNA

Accra, Nov. 13, GNA - A cross-section of Parliamentarians on Monday underlined the structural weaknesses and the weak institutional capacities of the legislature, which had made it unable to exert effective oversight over the Executive.

Mr. Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader said, "The kind of Parliament we have now is not the full separation of powers but the cooperation between the Executive and the Legislature."

He said Members of the House were part of the Executive, who toed partisan lines no matter the national interest or even vote according to their conscience. Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, MP and Minister of Public Sector Reforms said, "Parliament is doing injustice to itself. I do not see the reason why it cannot lead a crusade to have constitutional changes. I don't understand why chairmen of sub-committees occupy backseat whilst Ministers occupy the front row."

He said it was sad to observe that during the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, just as like the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, District Chief Executive (DCEs) were behaving negatively towards their MPs.

Members were contributing to discussions on Democratic Governance and Parliamentary Oversight: First Capacity Building Workshop organized for them by the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC) with support from New Rules in Global Finance.

Dr. Nii Moi Thompson, Economic Consultant presented a paper on; " The Oversight Role of Parliament Over the Executive", Mr. Bishop Akolgo of ISODEC led a discussion on "Multilateral Donors and their Role in Ghana's Economy" whilst Mr. Charles Ayamdoo, Deputy Director of Anti-Corruption Department of CHRAJ gave an exposition on Corruption. Dr. Nduom suggested that Parliament should seek for its own funding to strengthen its operations.

But Mr. Bagbin cut in that Parliament by its establishment had no jurisdiction or powers to contract any loan nor grant and even the Speaker did not have such powers.

Mr. Bagbin expressed regret that Parliament had set up many committees to investigate some pertinent issues but nothing came out of those efforts and that it was just that the Executive failed to cooperate with them.

"And that the performance of Parliament can be likened to a monkey running away from a dog chasing it and not that the dog was stronger than the monkey but that the dog has a follower who is carrying a gun as well."

Mr. Bagbin explained that when one talked about the Executive, it was normally referring to the Presidency and if there were MPs who became members of the Executive then one should know where the weaknesses of the Legislature was coming from.

"We need to resource Parliament to build its capacity to strengthen democratic practice," he added.

Mr. Kwamena Okerchiri, MP for Nkawkaw and Majority Chief Whip, said the desire of all MPs was to become a Minister and sometimes it was difficult not to toe the party line. 13 Nov. 06

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