Ghana's incompetent parliament

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• Joseph Awuah-US 11 years ago

  The problem is because most of them are also ministers.
  If its their duty to supervise the executive and most of them are in the executive,how do they perform that function.

  The problem is because most of them are also ministers.
  If its their duty to supervise the executive and most of them are in the executive,how do they perform that function.

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• Martin Tema 11 years ago

  God Bless Our Home land Ghana.
  Educational. Excellent analysis.
  What can the ordinary Ghanaian do to help fix the problem in Parliament?
  We vote for the right people but our votes don't matter any more because supreme cour ...
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  God Bless Our Home land Ghana.
  Educational. Excellent analysis.
  What can the ordinary Ghanaian do to help fix the problem in Parliament?
  We vote for the right people but our votes don't matter any more because supreme court and Asantehene can choose who ever they want as President.
  I am an Independent voter.FYI

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• Kofi Ata, Cambridge, UK 11 years ago

  Awua, the ineffectiveness of parliament or parliamentarians being corrupt is not because most of them are ministers. In fact, the percentage of MPs who are part of the Executive is relatively small and not most. The same syst ...
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  Awua, the ineffectiveness of parliament or parliamentarians being corrupt is not because most of them are ministers. In fact, the percentage of MPs who are part of the Executive is relatively small and not most. The same system is used in the UK but they are able to hold the Executive accountable and safeguard the public interest. This is not to suggest that there is no corruption within the UK parliament as the expenses scandal exposed lots of MPs and Lords in both houses of parliament. The difference is that monies have been refunded and some MPs and Lords were prosecuted and jailed for corruption. Others lost their seats or did not contest the last election as they were aware they would have lost. That would not happen in Ghana.
  
  In my view, the real problem is that either the Ghanaian is innately corrupt or the inability of institutions to enforce laws, rules and regulations and the citizens unwillingness to comply with the laws, rules and regulations. I also believe that it the latter more than the former because I do not believe that Ghanaians are born corrupt. Therefore the solution lies a change in the Ghanaian mindset so that institutions will enforce the laws, rules and regulations and at the same time, citizens will comply with the laws, rules and regulations.
  
  Doc, in my opinion, most, if not all Ghanaians go into politics not to serve or to protect the public interest but rather for their personal interests. Simply put, to enrich themselves. It is the personal interest that the parliamentarians protect and not the public interest. That is why despite high crime rates in Ghana, the MPs are more interested in their personal security than that of the general population. Unfortunately, the hard fact is that unless adequate and effective measures are taken to improve the general safety and security in Ghana, the MPs can have all the personal protection the state can provide but they would still not be safe in Ghana as long as the citizenry are robbed at gunpoint, attacked, murdered, etc. The MPs do not live in an island away from the rest of the population.
  
  Doc, I hope you are following events in Ghana from the US through the internet media. I say so because of your intended petition to CHRAJ to investigate MPs' corruption allegation. I wonder if you read media report last week that CHRAJ has no money/resources to investigate SADA. Are you sure CHRAJ has the resources to investigate the allegation? Remember, I stated earlier that institutions are unable or even unwilling to enforce the laws, rules and regulations? CHRAJ is one of the institutions.

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• Amecole. 11 years ago

  Kudos to you. Have always felt that way about the entire content of your contribution. Ghanaians simply are not willing to give up corrupt practices in their everyday lives yet cry about corruption daily. I have come to the s ...
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  Kudos to you. Have always felt that way about the entire content of your contribution. Ghanaians simply are not willing to give up corrupt practices in their everyday lives yet cry about corruption daily. I have come to the sad conclusion that Plato's "Allegro of the cave" very much is Ghana of today.

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• Close Observer 11 years ago

  People of GHANA, do not support POLITICAL PARTIES like you would support HEARTS or KOTOKO. Political parties are a GROUP OF PEOPLE who claimed they can MANAGE AFFAIRS of our COUNTRY for us. They do that FOR A LIVING, and we P ...
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  People of GHANA, do not support POLITICAL PARTIES like you would support HEARTS or KOTOKO. Political parties are a GROUP OF PEOPLE who claimed they can MANAGE AFFAIRS of our COUNTRY for us. They do that FOR A LIVING, and we PAY THEM for what they do. You must therefore use your HEAD not your EMOTION to ASSESS THEIR PERFORMANCE. That is the ONLY WAY you can give them A FAIR ASSESSMENT. When they do a GOOD JOB you RETAIN them, when they don't, you KICK THEM OUT. If they COMMIT any CRIME whiles in OFFICE, you PROSECUTE THEM to serve as DETERRENT for others. Our country can move forward when we do these. Remember also that MEMBERS of PARLIAMENT are accountable to you, the people who put them there. MONITOR what they are doing and question them on it when they come back to you for RE-ELECTION. YOU HAVE THE POWER, not them. For those who PROPAGATE TRIBAL DISCRIMINATION, don't vote for them; and tell them in the face that you don't want GHANA DIVIDED. God bless every Ghanaian. Long Live Ghana.

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• kay de 11 years ago

  Well said Doc.But please come back home quickly to help bring the Big Elephant back home.

  Well said Doc.But please come back home quickly to help bring the Big Elephant back home.

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• Ayensu 11 years ago

  We can start from the colleges and universities. Teach what politics is all about

  We can start from the colleges and universities. Teach what politics is all about

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• Niibi 11 years ago

  Outstanding piece of article. Very informative and educative. My two cents on these is what I call the "Game Theory". All of Ghanaians are soccer fans and will cry foul if players we support and fund don't produce and yet are ...
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  Outstanding piece of article. Very informative and educative. My two cents on these is what I call the "Game Theory". All of Ghanaians are soccer fans and will cry foul if players we support and fund don't produce and yet are fielded in our beloved Black Stars. And this is just for fun/entertainment. WHY DON'T WE TOGETHER ANALYSE THESE POLYTRICKCIANS AND VOTE THEM OUT IF THEY DON'T PERFORM?

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• KWAKU 11 years ago

  Niibi, your suggestion is what can address the incompetence and corruption in parliament. No matter how incompetent or corrupt a parliamentarian is, he/she can hide behind a party label to escape any retribution. I am sure ...
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  Niibi, your suggestion is what can address the incompetence and corruption in parliament. No matter how incompetent or corrupt a parliamentarian is, he/she can hide behind a party label to escape any retribution. I am sure the score-keeping and law suits can bring to realization the suggestions outlined by Arthur. Amidu, the former attorney general, has led the way in the law-suit front. Now, pressure groups can start publishing "score cards" of legislative "approvals" and their impact.
  
  Another very effective way of scaring away corrupt activities from public officials is to pursue law suits to enforce the declaration of assets within the periods prescribed by the constitution. Arthur cannot do these things by himself; this requires the collective effort of all. Let people know how much such suits and score-keeping cost, and they will be ready to contribute toward the funding. The road to a thousand miles begins with one. This can be done.

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• K Arthur 11 years ago

  Ghana`s current constitution was written by JJ RAWLINGS. THAT'S WHY PARLIAMENT HAS NO POWER.

  Ghana`s current constitution was written by JJ RAWLINGS. THAT'S WHY PARLIAMENT HAS NO POWER.

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• Yaw. ed 11 years ago

  How

  How

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• Owura Ntim 11 years ago

  Vote only independent candidates to parliament. Ghanaians should ditch all career politicians. Vote independent candidate for president to change the status quo.

  Vote only independent candidates to parliament. Ghanaians should ditch all career politicians. Vote independent candidate for president to change the status quo.

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• GAS 11 years ago

  THESE PARLIAMENTARIANS ARE THE MOST SELFISH GHANAIANS.THEY ARE OFTEN READY TO DO ANYTHING INCLUDING KILLING TO GO TO PARLIAMENT AND BEHAVE LIKE LORDS WHEN THEY GET THERE! I THINK EACH MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT SHOULD BE PAID FROM ...
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  THESE PARLIAMENTARIANS ARE THE MOST SELFISH GHANAIANS.THEY ARE OFTEN READY TO DO ANYTHING INCLUDING KILLING TO GO TO PARLIAMENT AND BEHAVE LIKE LORDS WHEN THEY GET THERE! I THINK EACH MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT SHOULD BE PAID FROM THEIR OWN DISTRICT PURSE.I MEAN THEIR SALARIES SHOULD BE DETERMINED BY THEIR DISTRICT AND THEY SHOULD GO THERE FOR THEIR SALARIES AND LET US SEE HOW THEY BEHAVE AFTER THAT.

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• Kwame Wusu 11 years ago

  This is a well researched and written piece. I hope the Parliamentarians in Ghana regardless of their political stripe will take seriously the recommendations prescribed by the author. This is about Ghana not about any politi ...
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  This is a well researched and written piece. I hope the Parliamentarians in Ghana regardless of their political stripe will take seriously the recommendations prescribed by the author. This is about Ghana not about any political party. Most times, when I read articles, from people's view point in issues, the comments, of course not all, attack the writer and not the substance of his opinion or view. The beauty of the commentators, for the first time, in a long time of an article by this writer is that, if even they may disagree with him in certain areas, there were no insults. We need the caliber of such contributors to encourage more in depth articles by well meaning Ghanaians both at home and elsewhere. Doc, you made my day and I hope a lot of others as well. Well done and congratulations!

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