The Executive Director of the African Center for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA), Dr. Rasheed Draman, has said that Ghana needs more of the 8th Parliament to strengthen its democracy.
The 8th Parliament, which was hung, and until recently, was having 137 members apiece from the two main political parties, with an independent candidate who chose to do business with the NPP, is the first of its kind in the country’s history.
The composition of the House changed the way business was carried in previous parliaments especially during the passage of some notorious bills including the infamous e-levy.
Prior to the commencement of the 8th Parliament, legislators had to throw blows in the chamber at the election of the Speaker when some MPs tried whisking the ballot box away as some of them send people to do during their elections in their constituencies.
Following the declaration of some four seats vacant in the House, switching the earlier positions of the Majority and Minority, the House had to be adjourned indefinitely
Speaking on TV3’s KeyPoints Saturday, October 26, 2024, Dr. Draman stated that he wants more of the 8th Parliament to happen to enhance negotiation and oversight responsibilities of members.
According to Dr. Draman, having followed the Legislature over the past two decades, the composition of the 8th Parliament, although not the best as expected, has provided the best negotiations and shaped some policies in the interest of the state.
Unlike the previous Houses where the government in power wields absolute majority, he said various decisions are taken without proper scrutiny to prioritise the interest of the masses.
When Alfred Ocansey, host of the show, asked of his take on the 8th Parliament, he said “my verdict, I want more of the 8th Parliament because it’s not about the number of laws or number of bills that are passed. We are more concerned about the quality of the bills and also concerned about the quality of oversight.”
“I’ve been following this Parliament over the years, [but] I’ve never known that our Parliament has the power of the purse until this 8th Parliament where negotiation have to take place. For instance, for some financial bills not to pass the way they were. So we want more of the 8th Parliament. I know the parties don’t want it. They want absolute majority but citizens don’t want that. It’s not good for oversight.”
Speaking about the oversight responsibilities of the House, he said a lot has been done although more is expected to be done.
“Not enough but some oversight has taken place. It has improved. Can you imagine if it’s NDC that was in power and had all these numbers, we wouldn’t have any discussion on e-levy and many other things that happened in this 8th Parliament. So I’m speaking from the point of a citizen. I’m speaking from the position of someone who has worked with both sides and saying we want a very strong parliament,” he stated.
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