Parliament
to begin fourth meeting on Tuesday
By Samuel
Osei-Frempong
Accra
(Greater Accra) 15 October 2001 – The Ghanaian Parliament resumes sitting on
Tuesday, October 16, after a 12-week recess, to begin its last meeting of the
first session of the third legislative term.
More than
20 bills, including the amendment of the Criminal Code that saw the repeal of
the Criminal and Seditious Libel laws, were passed in the last meeting with the
new government getting parliamentary approval to contract more than 15 loans
for developmental projects.
Parliament
resumes sitting against the backdrop of public outcry over a car loan scheme
for the lawmakers and a cabinet reshuffle.
Many people
see the 20,000-dollar loan arrangement for each MP as a betrayal of the
nation's principles and priorities since the country has opted for the Highly
Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and needs to direct resources to more
needy areas.
Parliament
is also losing a familiar face on the frontline following last Thursday night's
cabinet reshuffle. Mr Joseph Henry Mensah, the lone septuagenarian in
Parliament, who brought experience, humour and the "age advantage" to
bear on legislative business, has given way to his former lieutenant, Papa
Owusu Ankoma, Youth and Sports Minister.
Papa Owusu
Ankoma's return to the frontline is not a surprise "gift" to most
political spectators since he distinguished himself when he served as deputy to
Mr Mensah.
He is
better known for his unassuming character, skill at bargaining and striking
compromises with the minority. The most important advantage he has is his age
and profession. The 43-yewar-old is a lawyer and is of the same profession as
members of the minority frontline, save one member.
Bills that
are likely to generate zeal and hot exchanges in the fourth meeting include the
Reconciliation Bill.
This bill
seeks primarily to create an avenue for victims of politically motivated
injustice and their perpetrators to speak out their hearts and access whatever
consolatory and atonement packages it may propose.
While the
majority sees it as a way of "de-toxicising" the politics of the
country, the minority views it as a way of putting the Rawlings' regime on
trial.
Media
reports of the cross-country public hearing on the bill moderated by the Legal
and Constitutional Committee of Parliament suggests that many Ghanaians
remember what went on during the Rawlings' time.
Parliament,
as it stands now, is controlled by NPP, which has 100 seats and is even
struggling to keep its members on their seats because of the constitutional
provision that makes it obligatory for the majority of Cabinet members to come from
the legislature.
The
National Democratic Congress (NDC), the main minority group, commands a
numerical strength of 92.
Already, a
lot of compromises have been made on the House's rules and conventions to
accommodate this unusual numerical arrangement in the house. One of the glaring
compromises was the approval of Ministers to belong to select committees, which
hitherto was not allowed.
The logic
behind that original rule was that the executive might interfere unnecessarily
in the work of committees, which are almost always scrutinising the work of
executive.
The
majority, having in mind the fact that they lack the overwhelming majority to
do as they please, have roped in two independent members, the three People's
National Convention members and Mr. Freddy Blay, the first Deputy Speaker, the
only CPP member in the house.
They have
also kept a hotline between them and the minority buzzing all day thus settling
all disputes backstage. This strategy suffered a hitch in the last meeting when
the NDC minority decided to boycott proceedings. Their absence had a toll on
the work of the
House.
They did
that in solidarity with Mr Enoch Teye Mensah (NDC-Ningo-Prampram) who was
detained by the BNI for allegedly masterminding the violence at Nima in the
post-May 9 Accra Sports Stadium disaster.
Thirty-five
persons screened for deputy Ministerial appointments could not be approved
during the weeklong boycott because the house could not raise 101 members
despite efforts made by the majority to do so.
When the
minority returned, the majority lost the goodwill it had enjoyed all this while
resulting in deadlocks and even "non détente" on many issues.
When the
appointment issues come up, the minority withdrew their support and for the
first time in the session, a time consuming and rigorous voting system that saw
some nominees escaping defeat by the skin of their teeth, decided who became a
minister.
One of such
persons, Mr Ben Osei-Kufuor, nominated for Deputy Minister of Lands, Forestry
and Mines, had to withdraw because his personal integrity and loyalty to party
principles were on the line.
Nonetheless,
the meeting ended in a friendly atmosphere with the minority hoping that
Speaker Peter Ala Adjetey's voice would not dominate the Hansard in the next
meeting.
What the
minority want for now is a majority, which they can easily dialogue with. Papa
Owusu Ankoma may offer the link. "Parliamentary business has always been a
game. Players would come and they will go,' Mr Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader,
told the GNA.
"It is
suicidal in politics to underrate your opponent. We just want an understanding
majority to work with," he said.
GRi../
Send your
comments to viewpoint@ghanareview.com