The leadership of Parliament has stressed the need for the citizenry to develop in-depth knowledge of their legislative functions.
“In most cases, Members of Parliament (MPs) have been unnecessarily misunderstood and attacked for not championing the cause of socio-economic development in their constituencies,” Mr. Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, noted.
Addressing a ‘Parliamentary Constituency Forum’ at Asante-Bekwai, in the Ashanti Region, he said the rate of ‘ignorance’ about the core functions of parliamentarians amongst the average Ghanaian was worrying.
“The august house has over the years lost some very experienced and knowledgeable personalities as their constituents agitate for their removal for not spearheading development of their areas. This is unfortunate,” he lamented.
It was against this background that the august house was working with the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) to promote public understanding of the duties and responsibilities of parliamentarians.
The programme was put together by the Public Affairs Unit of Parliament to create a platform for the people to engage their representatives, as well as the leadership in order to promote national development issues.
It fell in line with the on-going outreach programme of the Unit designed to allow for participatory democracy and rule of law.
The programme had in attendance the majority and minority leadership, traditional authorities, civil society organizations, and a cross-section of the public.
Topics discussed encompassed the legislative, informational and financial control functions of parliament, Directive Principles of State Policy, functions of the Public Accounts Committee, as well as duties of the various caucuses in Parliament.
Mr. Mensah-Bonsu stated that Parliamentarians would continue to build consensus on issues that affected the interest of the people.
He advised Ghanaians to be law-abiding in the discharge of their duties since no meaningful development could take place in a chaotic environment.
Source: GNA
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Did i hear Kyei mensah saying ignorance on our part? Oh my God, this man should go back and apologize because tis is a clear insult to the people. I ac't even think straight on his statement. YOu made promises during your campaigning time that when given the nod, you would do A B C etc. Now that the people are holding you to your promises you are telling us we are ignorance. What a pity Nation like Ghana. WE ARE IGNORANCE PAAA. So were you ***barred word*** during your campaign time where you made those promises? Where you ***barred word*** of the core duty of an MP during your campaign time ? If WE are to talk of ignorance then you are the NUMBER ONE ***barred word*** MP. I WISH WAS THERE TO ASK THIS SO CALLED MAJORITY LEADER SOME QUESTIONS
Mr Kyei Mensah, what were your campaign promises? What did you tell your people? Do you think we are ***barred word*** or what? You promise to bring or facilitate development programs or projects to to your community during your campaign time, now that you have the will of the people you are back telling us different stories. We will continue to eject you guys from office when we realize you are not bringing any projects to our community. You are there as a representative of your community. THat is your CORE DUTY. But most of you guys just go there to enrich your personal lives to the detriment of the masses in the community. Did you ask the Asante Bekwai people if there has been any project that the current MP has facilitated or lobbied or brought to the community? We are no more ***barred word***. That mantra of 'I am an NPP or NDC so should at all times vote for NPP or NDC is no more with the wise majority. We will continue to vote against you guys if we find out you are just wasting our WILL POWER. NO ONE IS SOLE REPOSITORY OF ALL KNOWLEDGE. When you were not there, Ghana parliament was in existence so do not think your absence would cost the nation. Even Baah Wiredu may his soul RIp got lost from parliament and yet the institution of parliament continued to work so dont think you are the biggest asset in parliament. WE HAVE EQUIVALENT REPLACEMENT AT ALL TIME SO WISE UP, GET IT STRAIGHT AND DO WHAT IS EXPECTED OF YOU IN THE COMMUNITY ELSE COUNT YOURSELF BEING REPLACED.