News:
February 23, 2023
In his goodwill message to Parliament as it launches a year-long celebration of 30 years of parliamentary democracy under the 4th Republic, President Nana Akufo-Addo has noted that Ghana is the beacon of democracy and stability.
According to him, where respect for the principles of democratic accountability, human rights and the rule of law have enabled Ghana to oversee eight (8) presidential elections in the 4th Republic, with five (5) presidential transitions, and three (3) peaceful transfers of power, through the ballot box, from one party to another.
In his speech presented on his behalf by the Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Opare she noted that, Ghanaians have the right to be proud of this, and the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the 4 Republic should inspire us, even further, to hold on to this status.
This milestone is to the great credit of the ordinary men and women who make up the fabric of our nation, and, indeed, to the credit of Parliament, the second arm of government. I fear that, often than not, many underestimate the importance of Parliament, and, consequently, undermine its work, he stated.
“Again, we cannot emphasize enough the role of Parliament in exercising the checks and balances needed on the Executive; Parliament is the voice of the people and we cannot emphasize enough the role of Parliament in setting the tone for public discourse in the country.
It is for the good of the country that Parliament continues to develop the capacity to insist on accountability in all aspects of our lives, and No institution is better suited for this than the representatives of the people”.
He assured that as President of the Republic, we owe it a duty to our children and grandchildren, and to generations yet unborn to protect our democracy and his government will do everything it can to help strengthen Parliament.
“Let me reassure you of the commitment of Government to working with Members of the House for the peace, progress and prosperity of Mother Ghana. All of us have a joint responsibility to work together, with our different views and our different perspectives, for the Ghana project and a united Ghana”.
He recounted that some of the most interesting times of his political life have been in the chamber of Parliament, and, dare say that, this is where with the help of colleagues, like the current Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, whom he came to meet in the House in 1997, and who became a good friend of his, the Majority Leader, with whom he entered Parliament on the same side at the same time, they did some of the work with long lasting effect on the Ghanaian society.
“Saturday, January 7, 2023, was exactly thirty (30) years since the Constitution of the 4th Republic came into force. It has inspired the longest period of stable constitutional governance in our history, with a consensus emerging that democratic form of governance is preferable.
Indeed, upon the coming into force of the Constitution, we resolved to build, under God, a united nation, grounded in democratic values and the rule of law, and we have gone a long way towards realising this vision”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com