Professor Ransford Gyampo a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana Political Science Department, has intimated that Parliament will be better off when the ruling government does not have the majority in the House.
He intimated that, Parliament over the years has not been able to work effectively and efficiently because of the majority in the house always wanting to do the bidding of the executive arm of government to remain in its good books.
He noted that, having the opposition occupy the majority seats in Parliament will be a good test for the country’s multi-party democracy.
“By the close of the day, we will see the big wigs who will fall. I’m looking forward to a parliament, you might have a government that will not have the majority in parliament.
“That is when we will test our true art of politicking, how we can build consensus and how we can ensure the survival of multi-party democracy. You will know how to dialogue when you get the Presidency without the majority in parliament, it will also show how you will be able to reach out to the other side and win their support in policy making.”
He said if this happens, that is where parliament will move away from its disingenuous role of serving as a mere rubber stamp for the executive government, always approving whatever policy thrown at them by the Executive because they want to get appointments.
“One party taking the presidency and the other taking parliament will help us see parliament performing its role as a counter authority to the Executive arm of government and this is because parliament is no longer a powerhouse that checks the executive.”
Meanwhile, joining the new faces in parliament, wife of the late Member of Parliament for Mfantseman, Ophelia Mensah Hayford has won and retained the Mfantseman constituency seat for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), succeeding her late husband, Ekow Kwansah Hayford.
According to the results, she polled 36,021 which is 51.93% of the total vote cast against her competitor, James Odziifo Essoun who had 32,438 votes.
She joins some of the numerous new faces like Darkua Newman, John Peter Amewu, amongst others to join parliament in the next government come 2021.
Following the death of her husband who was the then MP for Mfansteman constituency, the leadership of the New Patriotic Party in October 2020 confirmed Mrs. Hayford’s nomination to replace her husband.
Mrs Hayford retired from the Ghana Police Service following the confirmation after her husband, Ekow Kwansah Hayford, was shot and killed by some armed robbers while on campaign duties.
According to the party, Mrs Hayford, though not a politician, was a grassroots person who is loved by the constituents.
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