Parliament engages Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira

Residents of Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira District of the Central Region took on their Member of Parliament (MP), Mr. Foster Joseph Andoh on when they got the chance to meet him face-to-face, on Monday.

At a forum, dubbed, “Dialogue with Parliament”, the residents asked questions about some unfulfilled campaign promises of the MP and demanded explanations from him.

Among the promises are the rehabilitation of the Cape Coast-Twifo Praso Road, which is in a deplorable State; the construction of new schools; and the rehabilitation of some basic schools, including Islamic Basic School at Twifo Hemang.

The youth also criticised the MP for what they said his failure to honour his promise of economically empowering them through job creation.

The forum, which was organised by Penplusbytes with support from Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), formed an integral part of the implementation strategy of the “Connecting Citizens to Parliament project” by the Assurances Committee of Parliament (ACP).

It was aimed at creating a structured engagement mechanism between citizens and parliament to enhance their ability to hold duty bearers accountable through increased interaction between them and Parliament.

It was also to foster direct collaboration between the Assurances Committee and major stakeholders on its prime business of exercising oversight responsibility of ensuring that promises and assurances made in Parliament were carried out to the letter.

Mr. Foster Joseph Andoh, responding to the criticisms, said he was on course in executing all promises made during his campaign and asked the residents to exercise restraint because he had been in office for barely three years.

He, however, admonished them to desist from making excessive demands from their MPs and other public office bearers as it had the potential of pushing them into acts of bribery and corruption.

The MP, who is also a member of the ACP, commended Penplusbytes and its partners for supporting the work of the Committee in playing an effective oversight role over the Government.

He stated that Parliament was committed to the fight against corruption so the Committee would pursue all assurances, promises, and undertaking by the Government and MPs to seek accountability for the people of Ghana.

He asked the participants to become more enlightened on the duties and responsibilities of their MPs and District Chief Executives to be able to hold them accountable.

Mr.Jerry Sam, Programmes Director of Penplusbytes, explained that direct engagement with the citizenry was an essential component of holding office bearers accountable and also vital to the work of the ACP.

He said Penplusbytes through the “Connecting Citizens to Parliament project” had deepened citizens’ participation through ICTs and established effective working relationships between Parliament and citizens in the monitoring and delivery of essential services.

Some participants who spoke to the GNA expressed their appreciation to Penplusbytes for the opportunity and prayed that more of such events be organised throughout the country to enable citizens demand accountability from public office holders.

They also urged MPs to desist from making promises they would not be able to honour just to win votes.