President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has assured the people of Ghana and the world at large; that his government would commit to the strengthening of the legislature, for Ghana’s democracy to further develop.
The president, said it was for the good of the country that parliament continues to develop its capacity, to exact accountability on behalf of the citizens, as no institution is better suited for this role.
“As President of the Republic, I assure you that, out of duty to our children and grandchildren, and to generations yet unborn, my government will do everything it can to help strengthen Parliament. We will not give up when it comes to deepening our democracy and guaranteeing the integrity of the electoral process; and neither should you, the Ghanaian people.
“We do not have to look far back into history to see that stable period of constitutional government and intelligent management of the economy leads to prosperity. We must do everything within our means to safeguard our democracy.”
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
He said this in a statement read on his behalf, by the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, in Accra at the launch of the 30th anniversary of Parliamentary Democracy in Ghana. The year-long programme is on the theme “Thirty Years of Parliamentary Democracy under the Fourth Republic: The Journey Thus Far”.
The president, said that even though Ghana is presently confronted with difficulties, he does not doubt collective resolve of citizens to work the country out of these challenges, and put the nation onto the path of progress and prosperity. He however, expressed the fear that, often than not, many underestimate the importance of Parliament, and, consequently, undermine its work.
“Let us work to create the platform for the evolution of a new Ghanaian civilization, which will give true meaning to the foundational values of freedom and justice on which our nation was birthed,” President Akufo-Addo rallied. He reassured the House of his Government’s commitment to work with members for the peace, progress and prosperity of Mother Ghana.
“All of us have a joint responsibility to work together, with our different views and our different perspectives, for the Ghana project — a united Ghana, governed according to the rule of law, respect for individual liberties, human rights and the principles of democratic accountability; a Ghana that meets fundamental requirements of social justice and solidarity.”
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
Majority And Minority Caucus Leaders Speak At The Anniversary Launch
On his part, the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, called for a new constitutional order, to meet current democratic trends.
“It is time to re-engineer our constitutional architecture to conform to today’s realities, that frowns upon winner-takes-all syndrome and promotes collaboration, collectiveness and consensus building in decision making at all levels of governance.”
“We need a new constitutional order that would put a cap in the number of ministers of state. We need a new constitutional order that would ensure that the Speaker of Parliament is a serving member of Parliament.”
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu
The Minority Leader and MP for Ajumako Enyan-Essiam, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, said Ghana must not overlook the circumstances that led to the truncation of the first, second and third republics.
“Indeed, on the 28th of April 1992, the referendum which led to the abortion of the Constitution has become a major landmark in Ghana’s political history. Ghanaians, through the referendum have agreed to a new form of governance in our country.
“Mr. Speaker, Parliamentary democracy is a representative democracy and it is the one that allows a selected few to act and decide, amongst many others. It is the one that calls for a debate, scrutiny, oversight, deliberations and consensus building.”
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, also led the parliamentary session to glance through the history of the 30-year celebration of parliamentary democracy of the 4th Republic.
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