Accra, Oct. 5, GNA - The Member of Parliament (MP) for Bole, Mr John Mahama on Tuesday called for the setting up of a committee to work on the salaries and conditions of service of MPs as the lifespan of the current Parliament drew to an end.
Speaking before the commencement of Public Business after the Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey had welcomed members back from recess, Mr Mahama said the issue of conditions of service of MPs was still outstanding and it was important at this time to settle the problem now so ensure that incoming members were well motivated to carry on with the work of Parliament
The MP touched on the refurbishment of the main chamber of Parliament, which would be accommodating 230 MPs in 2005, and said it would be prudent to consider installing an electronic voting system to facilitate the work of the House.
The Speaker said the idea of an electronic voting system might be considered, in addition to other modern facilities during the expansion works.
On the issue of service condition, he said the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Felix Owusu Adjapong should be able to inform the House of what was being done in that direction.
Responding, Mr Owusu Adjapong said he was going to do further consultations and report back to the House on progress being made to better the lot of members.
Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, NDC-Avenor, who later caught the eyes of the Speaker, questioned why an instrument on the fixing of a date for Election 2004 had not been included on the agenda for the Third Meeting of Parliament, which began on Tuesday as required by the Constitution. He said this was important since such an instrument should be laid early enough to allow for the expiration of 21 sitting days of Parliament.
The Speaker in his ruling said it was not every instrument, which needed to go through 21 sittings before maturing.
Among some of the bill for presentation before the House during this session are the Civil Aviation, West African Gas Line and University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa Bills
