Minister of National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah has heaped praises on the 137 minority MPs on the NDC's side of Parliament for standing their grounds and playing the accountability role in the 8th Parliament.
Speaking at this year's Commonwealth Parliamentary Association workshop, the former MP urged the ruling government to view the happenings in Parliament by the minority as a step to remove the rubber-stamp cloud hovering over the activities of the house.
According to him, the actions of the minority is not an attempt to obstruct the business of government but rather giving true meaning to democracy and parliamentary roles and responsibilities. His statement is in sharp contrast with the position of his colleagues in government and the NPP's side of the house.
"The study of the evaluation of Ghana's Parliament under the 4th republic reveals an interesting insight. The composition of the 8th Parliament where the majority is decided by a narrow margin of one seat is in sharp contrast of the 1st Parliament of the current republic which operated as a one-sided legislature due to the boycott of the opposition party in the 1992 parliamentary elections.
What does this observation imply for the growth of Ghana's democratic practice? various interpretations could be given to this insight depending on the interest and motivation of the one conducting the analysis. Whereas some consider the new development as a threat given that it equips the minority with immense power to obstruct government business, let us view it as a departure from the percieved rubber-stamping nature of Parliament allowing it the much-needed impetus to serve as a proper check on the executive" , he said.
The minority group of Parliament have resisted attempts by government to pass the e-levy bill describing it as draconian and an affront on the digitization drive.
Parliament resumes today after a long break last year where fisticuffs were exchanged over the bill.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0