Parliament is subservient to the executive - CDD Boss

Accra, Feb. 18, GNA - Dr Baffour Agyeman-Duah, Associate Executive Director of the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) on Thursday said until Ghana amended its current system of governance, and adopted the Presidential type, Parliament would always be seen as subservient to the Executive.

"Our system which is the fusion of both the Presidential and Westminster type places the executive over and above Parliament, making them subservient to the Executive, which to a large extent, cast doubt on the independence of the legislature," he said.

Dr Agyeman-Duah, who was reacting to issues he raised when he addressed this year's Annual General Meeting of the Ghana Association of Private Voluntary Organisations in Development (GAPVOD) said: "Clearly Parliament as it is now, cannot be said to be fully independent or insulated from executive influence."

This position is contrary to that made by Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, Speaker of Parliament, at this year's Parliamentary Week celebration. Mr. Adjetey holds the view that the current Parliament is not under any influence from the Executive arm, so far as the Constitution does not guarantee that.

The Associate CDD Executive Director referred to the country's experience under Dr Hilla Limann, and said it clearly demonstrated that the Presidential system of government, which allowed for a complete separation of the three arms of government, was the best for the country.

"If we had allowed that system to stay and develop, by now we will not be experiencing the problems that are associated with the fusion type because in that case members of Parliament will not be compelled, if not in full, to toe the line of their government in power," Dr Agyeman-Duah noted.

He said the Presidential type would be feasible in Ghana's system today, but pointed out that, that would be possible only when the Constitutional provision, which allowed for majority of the legislature to come from the executive arm, was amended.

On Democracy, Dr Agyeman-Duah said, apart from the fundamental universal principles such as the rule of law, freedom of expression and association, in terms of the creation of the institutional structures, Ghana needed to build its own unique institutions that suit its political and socio-economic milieu.

He said: "On that note we need to revise our institutions such as Parliament, as well as the chieftaincy."

"Ghana's Democracy must not be seen as an imposition, but rather as a creation of its own, because there is no dependent economy that has been successful anywhere in the world," Dr, Agyeman-Duah noted. Addressing members of GAPVOD he said: "The delay in the country's development, was the result of the non-existence of efficient and effective Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) that was needed to put government in constant check."

He told GAPVOD members that, the responsibility lay on them to continually scrutinize and offer objective criticisms on the policies of government to ensure that they were consistent with implementation plans.

Dr Agyeman-Duah, however, cautioned GAPVOD members that in offering criticisms, they must pursue transparency and accountability themselves in their work adding, "don't just offer criticisms but offer alternatives to them as well".

On 2004 elections, he said the role of CSOs was crucial because their contributions whether directly of indirectly, would, to some extent, add to determine the outcome.

"Today the environment is conducive, but if CSOs decided to sit on the fence, and not contribute its vital role in government to implement decisions and policies transparently and objectively, it would be contributing to a corrupt or bad government," Dr Agyeman-Duah said. Giving an overview of the association, Mr Charles Abbey, Chairman of the Council of GAPVOD, described the past two years as very "challenging but fulfilling" due to enormous financial and administrative difficulties.

Despite the challenges, he said, GAPVOD steadily pursued its mission to advance the course of development and growth in the improvement of the quality of life of the ordinary poor.

On achievements, Mr. Abbey said, the current draft National Policy for Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs), which is before the Minister of Manpower Development and Employment, was to their credit.

GAPVOD is an umbrella association of NGOs that seek the sustainable growth and development of respective associations and their active participation in the process of national development.