Parliamentary Affairs Ministry is key to govt business - Leader

Accra, Nov. 21, GNA - Mr Abraham Ossei-Aidooh, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, on Wednesday said although the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs blurred Parliament's oversight functions over the Executive, it still facilitates government business. He said there were on-going arguments that the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs should not double as the Majority Leader in Parliament, as is the case presently, to secure the independence of the Executive and Legislature.

He said a government motion or business cannot be introduced in Parliament without a government Minister and therefore it was important that a Minister of Parliamentary Affairs who could also be the Majority Leader and his Deputy be given a ministerial position to execute government business in the absence of a Minister. Mr Ossei-Aidooh advanced these arguments when the German Ambassador, Dr Marius Hass, called on him in Accra. The Minister said although there were arguments for and against the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, what Ghanaians were looking for was a less partisan Parliament to provide a stable country and promote god governance.

He urged the developed world to assist developing countries such as Ghana with fair trade practices.

He thanked Germany for her continued assistance to the country and to political parties through German non-governmental organisations. Dr Haas lauded Ghana's stride in economic development, as well as successes chalked under the African Peer Review Mechanism. He also touched on the general elections and large number of NPP presidential aspirants, saying it was good for democracy.