Parliament is the citadel of democracy. It is the forum that houses the representatives of the population.
The cardinal roles of Parliament include law-making, where it is expected to make productive laws for the citizens. It has the power to oversee, monitor, and evaluate the Executive, the Judiciary, and other agents of the state. It has the power to debate all national issues affecting the nation.
Parliament vets the various nominees of the President, such as Ministers of State and their Deputies, the Chief Justice and all Supreme Court Judges, as well as the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund.
Parliament also has the power to invite any Minister of State or appointee to brief it on any national issue engulfing the country—be it political, trade and investment, national security, health, roads, or any matter that affects the development and growth of the country.
Any Member of the House has the right to question any Minister or Ministers of State on matters relating to their sector Ministries.
The Appropriation Act, which allows the Executive to spend, is passed and approved by Parliament. If Parliament refuses to pass it, then the Executive cannot spend, and this can lead to a shutdown.
Parliament is therefore an important arm of the state. It can make or unmake things.
I know the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin and his team are doing everything within the law to halt the numerous financial allegations some citizens have levelled against the House and some of its members.
Parliament is expected to fight corruption and other misdemeanours through its various Committees. An example is the Public Accounts Committee, which interrogates the Auditor-General’s Report on various state institutions and agencies.
It is therefore worrying that the same Parliament is being accused of corruption and other malfeasance by members of the public (citizens or voters). This development harms our nascent democracy.
It was disgusting to watch a Member of Parliament on national television celebrating and rationalising his decision to take a bribe or gift from a prominent Ghanaian business mogul to shelve a perceived national matter. He is an independent Member of Parliament from the Central Region. He made a terrible comment on a Channel One program.
We are anxiously and curiously waiting for Parliament to make a decision on this member of the August House. Parliament should do everything possible to purge itself of this negative tag.
Individuals and agencies always accuse Parliament (some members) of taking financial packages before passing various Legislative Instruments and other laws. It is also alleged that some Committees take money from nominees who appear before them (the Appointments Committee is notoriously known for such humiliating allegations).
All must support the Speaker and the leadership of the House to salvage our Parliament from this tainted perception.
I also appeal to the learned Speaker to institute impartial investigations into all corruption allegations levelled against the noble and Honourable House and its mentioned members.
Our Parliament should begin to implement its code of conduct and punish all Members of the House who are alleged to be involved in any corrupt act. (Prosecution can also be an option.)
Parliament is the watchdog of our public purse, and it should be seen doing the right thing.
Ahmed
The Servant
