News:
January 13, 2025
The Acting clerk of Ghana’s Parliament Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror has told New Members in the 9th parliament who are undergoing a four day orientation to sharpen their skills as the task ahead is daunting.
According to him there is high public expectation of MPs to perform their functions and duties which to a large extent is not consistent with their core responsibilities as mandated by the constitution of the Republic.
In his welcome remarks, he pointed out the need to examine what has become the new normal role of expectation of constituents and the actual responsibility and roles of MPs. “Your representation, what is it, what is the nature of that role, and what is required of you under the constitution; adding that these may be diametrically opposed to the views and expectation of their constituents, and sometimes a section of the public.
And going through this training, the real role of the MP is one issue that will come up and dominate our discussions. In order to confront it and address the many expectations, it is important for the MPs to seek the requisite knowledge and skills on platforms such as this orientation and induction program, and short courses organize by the parliamentary training institute as well as coaching and mentoring by senior colleagues. When you do that, you will be able to balance your statutory duties and representational roles by articulating the concerns and addressing the needs of your constituents.
As part of educating your constituents and the public on the proper role of an MP, the parliamentary service board, under former Speaker Oquaye and current Speaker Bagbin restructure the communications division by having public engagements, media relations for the public to understand the role; and this education needs to be continued for it to register in the minds of Ghanaians that MPs have a specific role that they have to play; many other expectations will be a matter of appealing to the MPs, he said.
“We believe this is very critical to take off the pressure on MPs and the parliamentary service board under the leadership of the Speaker we will work with you in this direction”, he added.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com