Parliamentary proceedings to be broadcast live

Kumasi, May 11, GNA-Mr Alban Bagbin, Majority Leader of Parliament has announced that plans are far advanced to broadcast parliamentary proceedings live both on radio and television nation-wide. The move, he said is part of plans to enhance the workings of the Ghanaian Parliament which is now in the process of evolving from just a law-making body to an important tool of good governance which ensures that the constituents which they represented became conversant with what goes on during parliamentary sessions.

Mr. Babgin, who is also the MP for Nadowli North was launching the first ever media forum with both the Minority and Majority leaders of Parliament in Kumasi on Monday. The forum was aimed, among other things, to create a platform for the media corps in the region to interact with the parliamentarians and ask pertinent questions to facilitate a better media understanding of the roles and functions of parliament to deepen democracy.

The Majority leader said Hansards and other important documents on parliamentary proceedings would also be made available to the print media for excerpts to be published for public consumption. He said this would facilitate a clear public and media appreciation of how Parliament operates, the absence of which has portrayed a negative image about Parliamentarians who were often bashed and run down by media personnel.

Mr. Babgin underscored the need for a reversal of such a situation since the media and parliamentarians are not enemies but worthy partners with the latter carrying out its mandate to disseminate and educate the people on policies formulated by Parliament. Mr. Kyei Mensah Bonsu, Minority Leader and MP for Suame Constituency in Kumasi, answering a question as to whether the public outcry for the review of certain parts of the constitution is plausible, he called for a total review of the constitution, saying that, it would be difficult to amend just a portion of the constitution which is not entrenched. But he quickly added that, the task of totally reviewing the constitution was very difficult since it called for a referendum.

Mr. I.K Gyasi Former Headmaster of TI Ahmadiyya Senior High School who moderated admonished the media to use the powerful influence to make or unmake personalities in high positions positively. He said they should not abuse that power by tarnishing the hard won image of politicians and be humble enough to apologise when they are faulted.