Parliament to establish a legal department in Parliamentary Service - Speaker

The Speaker of Parliament, Professor Michael Aaron Oquaye has underscored the need for the House to establish a legal department in the parliamentary service to assist them on legal related matters.

At the opening of the second meeting of the first session of the seventh parliament Tuesday, the Speaker said the establishment will help has been agreed in principle by the Parliamentary Service Board.

‘’The need for the establishment of a legal department in the Parliamentary Service to assist the House in drafting legislations, motions, amendments, private member’s bills and also assist in general legal counselling has been agreed, at least in principle by the Parliamentary Service Board,’’ the Speaker announced.

Ghana’s Parliament he stated has come of age and ‘’we should progress,’’ he added.

On Staff Welfare, the Speaker said he had a familiarisation meeting with Staff of the Parliamentary Service to acquaint himself with their concerns ‘’which related to inadequate office and residential accommodation, training, catering and counselling services, salaries, travel and other allowances, promotion etc.’’

He said, ‘’…staff welfare impacts heavily on the work of the House as a whole and I will work tirelessly with the Clerk and leadership to ensure that the concerns raised by staff are prompt and adequately addressed. In fact, steps are already being taken to resolve some of these at once,’’ he concluded.