Government will not undermine independence of the Legislature

Elmina, Aug. 28, GNA - Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, on Monday said growth of the nation's fledging democracy was "inextricably linked" to a thriving, vibrant and independent legislature that would not be undermined by the Government.

He debunked fears 'among a rather small section of the citizenry' that the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs was created to bully the legislation into submission, stressing that its core function was to serve as a link between the Executive and the Legislature.

Mr Owusu-Adjapong made the observation when addressing the opening session of a two-day 'Consultative Meeting' towards the finalization of a draft policy framework, to enhance activities of the ministry to contribute more effectively to good governance and socio-economic development.

The proposed policy is the first for the ministry, since its establishment in 1993.

Participants at the workshop sponsored by the UNDP, were officials from the ministry, Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and Office of the Head of Civil Service.

Mr Owusu-Adjapong said Government had expressed appreciation and the need for cooperation among the three arms of government "Without any of them usurping powers of others".

The ministry, he noted therefore, had a critical responsibility in the nation's democratisation process, which entailed facilitating effective functioning of the legislature, promoting good governance, as well as broadening civil society participation in government.

Mr Owusu-Adjapong, referred to the 'APRM Country Review Report', which had recommended the 'review of the desirability of the ministry, as it intended to blur the lines between the legislature and executive arms of government'.

He observed that there could not be a strict separation of powers in the real sense and especially with the combined parliamentary systems of government.

Mr Owusu-Adjapong, reiterated government's commitment to the development of the country as outlined in the nation's blue print for development (GPRS II) that was also linked to the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

He said the policy framework was therefore, in furtherance of attaining the objectives of the government's development agenda, adding

"In doing this we will be providing further impetus to the efforts so far made by Ghana towards attainment of the MDGs".

Mr Owusu-Adjapong, was optimistic that the participants would "apply themselves diligently to the task" to provide quality input to the framework.

Dr Stephen Duah-Yentumi, Deputy UNDP Resident Representative and Acting Head of Programmes, said UNDP's mandate was to promote sustainable human development by supporting nationally identified priorities that eliminated poverty and ensured accelerated growth, development, and consolidated systems of leadership and accountability. He said Ghana had already established its own development paradigm through GPRS I and II and in addition committed herself to meet the global goals agreed at the Millennium Declaration of 2000.

Dr Duah-Yentumi said one of the key institutions that could ensure sufficient level of national mobilization and joint action that existed to meet GPRS I and II and the MDGs was Parliament, while the ministry facilitated interaction between Parliament and the Executive. He underscored the importance of the policy framework and said UNDP would like to see a framework that was in synergy with its focus of sustainable human development, poverty reduction, good governance and the realization of the MDGs by 2015.

Dr Duah-Yentumi pledged the UNDP's readiness to support the ministry to establish a Parliamentarian Forum for Human Development and the MDGs, to serve as a platform for Parliamentarians to debate and discuss the MDGs, and the nation's own development goals as set out in GPRS II.

The UNDP, he said would in addition, be interested to partner the ministry to set up a 'Research Support Unit' to facilitate the provision of in-depth research and information inputs for Parliamentarians on various thematic issues coming under the rubric of human development, MDGs and the GPRS.