News:
September 13, 2017
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu has stated that workshops by Committees outside the precincts of Parliament expose the lawmakers to the problem of bribery allegations whiles in the discharge of their services.
“We have come to the realization that, the many workshops that we are having outside Parliament is creating problems for us, because all manner of people, all manner of Committees meet at various places and you wouldn”t be able to know what goes on there, and people come with all kinds of allegations against Members of Parliament” he said.
Responding to a question on measures being pursued to protect the integrity of Parliament in the wake of bribery allegations, the Suame Member of Parliament noted that development may be a contributing factor that promotes bribery allegations against Members.
He disclosed that going forward into the next sittings of Parliament, there would be an insistence for Committee meetings to be held within the premises of Parliament since the advent of the Job 600 complex has provided more meeting rooms.
Parliament, he stated has also halted the trend where Committees of Parliament hold meetings with Ministries, Departments and Agencies which they are supposed to exercise oversight responsibility at the Ministries offices.
This he said is expected to prevent any compromises since the lawmakers are also humans’ who are susceptible to influences.
The Majority leader expressed hope that the code of conduct for MPs would help address the excesses.
He made these comments during a Press Soiree held by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs in partnership with Parliamentary News Africa.
By Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com