Kufuor calls for second chamber of parliament

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has called for the creation of a second house of parliament that would ensure that laws are passed with less political influence.

He said the second chamber of parliament should be appointed by a special appointment committee and its members should be drawn from civil society organizations and policy think tank researchers to provide a more technical and intellectual legislative bench.

He said appointments to the chamber should not be based on political affiliation or through electoral votes.

Speaking at the launch of the West African Think Tank Network (WATTNet) by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in collaboration with nine other think tanks in West Africa, former President Kufuor said, the new legislative chamber can be used to empower women and other marginalized groups by including them in the house to take part in high level political decision making.

He believes this would challenge the status quo where bills are rushed through proceedings by the Majority in Parliament who use their number to pass them into laws.

This, he said, usually result in the passage of ineffective laws which end up not contributing to the socio-economic development of the country.