Story: Tim Dzamboe, Ho
THE Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin, has urged Ghanaians to resolve to sustain the democratic path to governance of the state.
He said the best system that humanity had ever developed was democracy, and that where there was an intervention of the “gun” in governance, it was Parliament that suffered, while the Executive and the Judiciary functioned uninterruptedly.
Mr Bagbin was addressing a Regional Parliamentary Forum on “Strengthening the Legislature through Public Engagement” in Ho.
He, therefore, said that there was the need to appreciate a responsible minority or opposition in governance, because it served as the voice of the voiceless, a viable alternative to the ruling government and an opposition to the ruling government.
As the voice of the voiceless, the Minority leader said the opposition expressed the views of a significant section of the electorate and helped to ensure that concerns of the various groups and other interests not represented in government were not forgotten or trampled upon.
The Minority leader said the opposition also served as a reminder that properly functioning democratic systems were about choice, and that there was a viable alternative with a real or imagined potential to improve the quality of life of the people which could help them realise their aspirations.
He, however, said opposition must exercise circumspection in opposing government in order to put national interest supreme at all times.
In an address, the Speaker of Parliament, Right Honourable Ebenezer Sekyi-Hughes, said Parliament had resolved to build on the gains made so far and to consolidate democracy in the country.
He urged citizens to contribute their views on parliamentary democracy in order to put them in a better position to make laws that would stand the test of time.
The Speaker stressed that there should be no room for complacency to promote the entrenchment of democracy; and that as a nation, the people should uphold the principles of democracy to ward off undemocratic upheavals that had occurred in some African countries.
For his part, the Majority Chief Whip in Parliament, Mr Adusa Okechire, said the unofficial functions of MPs, without the requisite resources, had put them under pressure and scores of criticisms from the electorate.
He said the provision of infrastructure was not the function of the MP; but that the work of the parliamentarian was to lobby in favour of the people, adding that it would be very unfair if this perception continued, making MPs to be chasing ministers for infrastructural development.
The Resident Director of the Frederich Ebert Foundation, Ms Cathrin Brischna, said Parliament belonged to the people, and the people had every right to challenge or commend their representatives.
She, however, said the electorate should be fair to the MPs, explaining that although many people hoped that MPs could be of direct assistance to them, they had their duty first to the nation, before their constituencies and their respective parties.
Ms Brischan pledged the support of the foundation to Parliament to enable it grow to play its role effectively in the democratic process.
In a welcoming address, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi, said the forum was a vivid demonstration of parliamentary democracy for the people, because it enabled people living outside Accra to know more about the governance of their nation.
He said if the culture was sustained, it would strengthen our democracy, because many people would actually appreciate democracy the more.
The function was chaired by the Volta Regional representative of the Council of State, Togbe Kpangbatriku III, Chief of Dodome Traditional Area.
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