Parliament reconvenes to work on 49 bills including RTI

A total of 49 bills are expected to be laid in the next session of parliament which begins Tuesday, May 15.

Among the bills to be laid is the Right to Information Bill which was laid under the certificate of urgency in the last session but was later withdrawn on the basis that the bill was not urgent in nature.

“We’re expecting that 49 bills will be laid, that’s quite high but we’re expecting they would be laid and then taken through the various stages that they have to”, director of Public Affairs of Parliament, Kate Addo told TV3.

Aside the 49 bills that are expected to be laid, 25 instruments are also expected to be laid.

Ms Kate Addo, reiterated that although the number of bills to be laid is rather on a high side, she is hopeful they will pull them through. She also noted that some of the bills are at various stages including the committee level.

“There are I think 8 bills at the committee stage, they are the Right to Information bill, we are expecting that work will be done on it soon, there is also something about legal education which is also at the committee level that will also be dealt with” she noted.

Another key issue on the agenda of the house will be the vetting of the president’s nominee for the deputy special prosecutor position, Cynthia Lamptey, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, May 16.

Ms Kate Addo said all the necessary things have been put in place to vet the nominee.

About 19 directives of the Speaker of Parliament from the previous meeting including the directives on the conflict between the Fulani herdsmen and farming communities and the maltreatment of African slaves in Libya which are currently before the defence and interior committee are also expected to be worked on and presented to the house.

She also hinted members of the house would also embark on an outreach programme to Navrongo in the Upper East Region as part of activities marking their 25th anniversary.

“We’re also expecting to go to Navrongo for one of our outreach programmes during this meeting and the aim is to take parliament closer to the people”