MPs optimistic about current session

Accra, Jan.30, GNA - Members of Parliament (MPs) say they are optimistic about the current session of Parliament stressing that they hoped democracy and rule of law would be given greater opportunity to thrive.

They also expressed the hope that it would be an opportunity for constituents to feel the essence of Parliament and have their situations improved beyond its current state.

The MPs said this in separate interviews with the Ghana News Agency on their expectations and hopes of the new session.

Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo, NPP-Akyem Oda, said Parliament as an important arm of government has suffered most during military takeovers.

"We have to celebrate this session as a special event that seeks the entrenchment of democracy and rule of law."

He noted that the country's future was determined on security; rule of law and development, "as espoused by Busumuru Kofi Annan (Immediate-Past General Secretary of the United Nations) in his recent lecture to mark the 50th Anniversary of Ghana's Independence". Mr Osafo Maafo urged his colleagues to make the session different from all others.

He said it was relevant that President John Agyekum Kufuor should assume the Presidency of the African Union (AU) during the period when Ghana was celebrating its 50th anniversary of independence and Parliament should be the place to do it.

"It's not by accident that Ghana assumes the AU Chair in our Jubilee year. It is in recognition of the role she has played in ensuring Africa's total liberation."

Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, the Deputy Minority Leader, said: "Two cardinal things happened this morning indicating that the Majority is learning from their mistakes - the fact that the Speaker has revisited the issue of Mr Eric Amoateng, NPP Nkoranza, and his arrest and detention in the United States." He noted; 93given the situation we believe that he has no business being in the House.

He said information given to the security agencies and the Police showed that he definitely had something to hide. Especially when one considered the fact that he at one time said he was going to buy watches and then later that he was visiting his sick daughter. He also commended the Government for bringing back the Millennium Challenge Account Compact before the House as demanded during the last session.

"The Compact by definition is an international agreement and this must be brought to Parliament for ratification before any disbursements are made.

"If they do things right like this in the House, we will support them and we can move the nation forward", he said. Mrs Theresa Amerley-Tagoe, NPP Ablekuma South, called on her colleagues to make this session a period during which their constituents would benefit from their membership of the House. "We must get closer to them and let them have the full benefit of our place in the House. We should look to eradicating poverty and problems facing women, children and HIV/AIDS", she said. 30 Jan. 07