Transparent and accountable governance starts from parliament – Speaker

The Speaker of the 7th Parliament of the Republic of Ghana, Rt. Hon. Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye has stated that the “commitment at ensuring transparent and accountable governance starts from within parliament”.

According to speaker, the capacity of parliament to adequately scrutinize the budget as well as government policies and programs has become an issue of concern to the citizenry and parliament’s visibility at exposing corruption and the conduct of members regarding their commitment to work have also attracted public attention.”

He has therefore urged members of parliament to conduct themselves appropriately.

Rt. Hon. Prof Oquaye was speaking at an orientation and induction seminar organized for Members of the 7th Parliament at Koforidua; the Eastern Regional capital.

The seminar which is under the theme: “Deepening Transparent and Accountable Governance: Strengthening Parliament for National Development” is meant to take the Members of Parliament through presentations on the role and functions of Parliament, parliamentary practice and procedures, Legislative processes, Services and resources that contribute to parliament’s effective discharge of its constitutional mandate amongst many other useful topics that relate to governance.

For the first time in many years, the orientation and induction seminar which is expected to last for three days has a special session for new members of parliament, the purpose of which is to devote time to properly orient and usher these new members into parliament so that they will be able to find their bearings within the precinct of parliament.

The speaker used the opportunity to admonish members who most often absent themselves from parliament without any proper excuse to desist from that.

The majority leader and the minority leader both spoke about the relevance of the seminar and urged the members to give the needed attention to the exercise.

Some new members of parliament who spoke to the media expressed their satisfaction with the exercise and hoped that by the end of the 3 days exercise, they would have been groomed enough and fully prepared for their parliamentary duties.