Another Parliamentary day to remember

A GNA colour by Samuel Osei-Frempong

Accra, Jan.17, GNA - A huge thick paperboard made black star hanged perilously above the Press Gallery in Parliament House where several strands of colourful linen converge.

The linen made in the national colours of red, gold and green ran from all the corners of entire chamber. The railings planted to keep the public in their space where they can afford an aerial view of the representatives of the people, also had its fair share of decorations. Below in the bowel of the chamber, legislators rushed through the two big doors to find their seats.

They had made choices in fashion for the morning, which was destined to start the second year called the Second Session of the Fourth Parliament.

Some had royally wrapped around their bodies colourful Kente cloth with native sandals to match.

Others wore smocks while the not-too-traditional went for the Jacket and trousers to celebrate a new year.

Mr Sekyi Hughes, Speaker, sat on his high chair in his usual "choir boy countenance" in the acre preserved for the "referee" who oversees the jaw-jaw battle between a strong Majority and an unyielding Minority. They live their lives like enemies in the Chamber but stuck closer like kitten in their closets.

They had looked forward to a blissful event as they had their own expectations and anxieties to this day.

Mr Felix Owusu Agyepong, the Majority Leader, says; "I expect hard work, hard work, hard work."

Mr Doe Adjaho, Deputy Minority Leader, however, wanted a word from the Majority and Government on the status of Mr Eric Amoateng, the Nkoranza North member, fighting to disentangle himself from an alleged drug case in the United States.

The chamber had not suffered at the seams as few dignitaries bothered to grace the occasion.

Dr Kwabena Adjei, the Former Majority Leader in the Second Parliament and now the Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) watched the game he dominated in his time with relish. Mr Dan Lartey, Leader of the GCPP, popularly known as 'domestication" also booked a seat in a chamber reserved for the chosen. The day grew lighter when they flocked to the lobby to socialise among themselves over drinks as unfriendly ushers violently prevented journalists from interacting with the people's representatives.

In far away England, Journalists freely mingle with Parliamentarians in an atmosphere of cordiality and respect but not in Ghana.

The date was January seventeenth, two thousand and six and the occasion was the opening of the second session of the Fourth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

It was a normal day but pinned with some sweet and bitter moments to remember.