Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho has expressed worry about the public’s continuous uncomplimentary remarks about Members of Parliament (MP) and the legislature.

He has therefore urged the law makers to critically assess themselves and turn a new leaf, especially, with regards to how they interact with their constituents and other people in the society.

He made this observation when he welcomed Members to the House this afternoon after almost three months break from in-house work.

The legislature has in recent times come under scrutiny with a cross-section of the public making allegations of misconduct against its Members.

Some have even gone beyond to level allegations of corruption against the legislature.

A fortnight ago, former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Prof. Stephen Adai made a startling revelation alleging that MPs take bribes and solicit same for their girlfriends.

“Now if you want Parliament to pass anything else, not only do you go to the committee and bribe them …but after they have gotten their share, they ask you where is our laptops in other words you have not made provision for their girlfriends,” he was quoted as saying by myjoyonline.com.

But the Speaker commenting further urged the members to be circumspect about the way the conduct themselves in public since anything contrary to a good behavior affects the dignity of the House.

“Hon members are aware that in recent times the House has been at the receiving end of uncomplimentary remarks which has the potential to impair the image of Parliament. It is rather unfortunate that these comments are coming in at a time when this House has opened its doors so to respond more to the needs of the citizenry.”

“Although members may be disappointed with the current state of affairs, I would appeal to you to consider this development to undertake an introspection regarding the effectiveness of your engagement with the public and other stakeholders to prevent such attacks on the House in the future.”

Mr. Adjaho announced to Members that the House’s Code of Conduct and Standing Orders have undergone review and would soon be laid on the floor for consideration and adoption.

“I strongly believe these two documents – the Code of Conduct and the operational manual will go a long way to guide the conduct of our members and the entire House in the performance of their duties.”

He also announced the establishment of a Scrutiny Office, an independent body that will assist the House in the performance of its functions.

That aside, he said the Parliamentary Service Board has also approved the establishment of a Parliamentary Training Institute that will help upgrade the knowledge levels of members of the legislature as far as parliamentary democracy is concerned.

The upcoming presidential and parliamentary primaries of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) Wednesday had a telling effect on Parliament when the legislature was forced to adjourn its sitting to Thursday because of the absence of some key members.

The members, some of who are Ministers of State and chairmen of various committees and representing the NDC on the Majority side of the House were scheduled to move various motions on the floor for the advancement of the government business but were absent.

For instance, Chairman of the Finance Committee, James Klutse Avedzi who was expected to move the motion for the adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the 2013 Reconciliation Report on the Petroleum Holding Fund was absent.

Mr. Avedzi is seeking for re-election on the ticket of the NDC for Ketu South Constituency.

Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, Minister of State In-Charge of Public Sector Reform who was also scheduled to present a paper on the African Charter on Values and Principles of Public Service and Adminsitration was also not present.

Dr. Pelpuo is seeking for re-election as the NDC parliamentary candidate for Wa Central Constituency.

Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Haruna Iddrisu acted in his absence.

Mahama Ayariga, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, who is seeking for re-election as NDC parliamentary candidate for Bawku Central was also expected to present a Paper on the Host Country Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Gfhana and the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) Regarding the Establishment of a sub-Regional Office of CAB International in Ghana but was absent.

Minister of Defence, Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor acted on his behalf.

That aside, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu who was scheduled to move the motion for adoption of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Performance Audit Report of the Auditor General on the Regulation of Residential Homes for Children (Orphanages) by the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) was also absent.

Mr. Agyeman-Manu, MP for Dormaa West is a member of the Minority side of the House.

Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho who was not enthused about the turn of events feared the situation if allowed to continue would impact negatively on the performance of the House.

He has therefore urged the leaders (both Majority and Minority) to institute measures to curtail the challenge they are being confronted with.

“I called the House so that we can come and transact business so that in the face of the challenges because of the primaries of the majority, how that will not affect the business of the House. We should not deceive ourselves. We are confronted with serious challenges during this meeting. So, I want us to find ways and means of trying to put things together,” he said.

He also proposed bringing inviting some former leaders of the House to bring their expertise to onboard to help address the challenge.

It has now emerged that the New Patriotic Party’s (NEC) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that slapped an indefinite suspension on the party’s National Chairman, Paul Afoko last Friday on grounds of misconduct was without their Parliamentary Caucus.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Upper Denkyira West, Benjamin Ayeh, who confirmed this to Yaa Serwaa Akoto on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa 102.3 FM Monday, said the decision was very strategic because the Caucus wanted to stay neutral in the feud that rocked the party.

“Prior to the meeting, the Parliamentary Caucus met at our leader’s office and we all agreed not to be part of the said meeting. We came to that conclusion after a thorough deliberation over the subject matter. Key amongst them is the legalities surrounding the First National Vice-Chairman who chaired the meeting.We also agreed that we should stay in the middle so that when the need arises for us to settle the matter amicably, we can be in pole position to talk to the feuding factions for peace to prevail,” he said.

Mr. Ayeh further told Serwaa Akoto that if the Parliamentary Caucus does not conduct themselves well, they may be accused of taking sides in the matter, a situation he said will make it very difficult for them to find a common ground to the impasse that has rocked the party.

Inside sources said the meeting was also without the 2016 Presidential Candidate of the party, Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong, former President Kufuor among others.

To Mr. Ayeh, the indefinite suspension of Mr. Afoko was unfortunate, preferring instead an amicable solution to the dispute that has divided the rank and file of the party.

Members of Parliament are expected to return to the legislature on Tuesday, October 27, 2015, to begin the Third Meeting of the Third Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Fourth Republic after a long break.

The Meeting which will last for about nine weeks will see the legislators’ debate, consider and approve various policy documents, some of which are currently before them.

Key among the government’s business to be considered and approved is the 2016 Financial Policy Statement which will be presented on the floor by the Finance Minister, Seth Terkper.

Twenty five Bills which are currently at table would also be presented. They are the Ghana School of Law Bill, Legal Service Bill, Road Safety Bill, Tax Administration Bill and the Electronic Communication Bill among others.

A statement from the Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Kate Addo said thirteen Bills that are currently at the Committee level would still be worked on.

They include; Companies Bill, 2013; Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Bill; Whistleblower (Amendment) Bill, 2015; Ghana Aids Commission Bill; and Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill among others.

Ten Bills including Conduct of Public Offers Bill, 2013, Intestate Succession Bill, 2013 and Right to Information Bill, 2013 that are at Consideration state would also receive much attention by the legislature.

During the Meeting, twenty five (25) other instruments will be presented aside the five that are already at the Committee Level.

Forty (40) Papers would also be presented to the House for consideration in addition to nine Motions that have been tabled for debate.

Eighty eight (88) other referrals of Bills that are the Committee would also receive attention.

According to the Public Affairs of Parliament, the Meeting would also see the MPs move into the newly refurbished Job 600 offices.

During the period, Ghana would host the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region Conference which is expected to take off from November 2-6, 2015.

The conference would bring various Speakers, Presiding Officers among many others from eighteen (18) African countries together in Accra. The Gambia would also be participating in the Conference.

The Nine Lessons and a Carol would also be held on December 16, 2015.

Parliament has given the strongest indication of aiding in the processes required to change the voting date for general elections.

The Electoral Commission has moved the Election Day, a month earlier to allow smooth transition.
That means voting will take place on November 7 instead of December 7.

Parliament will play a crucial role in finally changing the date when the House resumes sitting.

The chairman for parliamentary select committee on subsidiary legislation O.B Amoah told Starr News the move is a step in the right direction.

“It will take us about five months to amend the constitution to accommodate the change but thankfully, that provision of the constitution is not entrenched.

“So the executive, specifically the Attorney General will have to bring the amendment to parliament. We all seem to agree that it’s time to change the date to allow for run-offs, especially for the presidential elections and handovers. You wouldn’t want the entire process to be conscripted,” he said.

My attention has been drawn to a feature story captioned as above and carried by the graphic.com.gh website and a host of other news portals on 18 September, 2015.

I hereby wish to correct the wrong impression the story has created.

The report wrongly cited me as part of the parliamentarians who during the 1st meeting of 2014, were absent without permission from 15 sittings. Mrs Della Sowah MP for Kpandoh and myself (Sulemana Alijata Gbentie) were captured in that assessment.

It is regrettable that the said Researcher, allegedly a University student outside the bounds of this country, could unfortunately use few periods to discredit my punctuality in the chamber.

The wrong data collated and analysed by a certain Sagoe-Moses known to be the researcher of this findings with further publications on another online website odekro.org has furnished my constituents and Ghanaians at large with a report that is not only inaccurate but malicious.

The facts

It may be of interest to note that during the period under review, I was on a parliament sponsored trip to Israel to represent the state in the Political Empowerment of Women Programme.

The programme organized by the State of Israel was in collaboration with the UN Women Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO).

It was scheduled between 3-27 February, 2014.

I wish to state that nothing justifies my absence from parliament at each sitting, except in instances where I am on official assignment or indisposed which I always notify the Speaker, as and when it’s necessary.

I am fully aware of the serious implication of continuous absenteeism from parliament without the written permission of the Rt Hon Speaker. I therefore seek to establish that I wouldn’t dare act in such an irresponsible manner as an Honourable member of Ghana’s legislature, as highlighted in Article 97 clause 1 ( c ) which states that, any MP who is absent, without the written permission of the Speaker from 15 sittings of a meeting of Parliament and is unable to offer a reasonable explanation for his absence to Parliament’s privileges committee must vacate his or her seat.

Sulemana Alijata Gbentie

Sissala East Constituncy (MP)