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Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye
With just 28 days left before the 2020 general election, the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, has called on citizens to respect the law to ensure peaceful elections.
“As the 2020 general election approaches, I wish you all the best, and I pray that our nation abides by the law, as we have always been, and that each official play their role in accordance with the requirements of the law. of our country, “he said.
In his final remarks at the closing session of the Third Meeting of the Seventh Parliament yesterday, Professor Oquaye said that in order to ensure peaceful elections, the President of the Electoral Commission (EC), the Minister of National Security, the Inspector General of Police and others all interested had appeared before the House to describe their preparation for the elections.
“I am confident that together we can have credible, orderly, fair and peaceful elections,” he said.
Dissolution
The president urged all MPs to work together as the House began preparations for the dissolution of the Seventh Parliament on January 7, 2021.
He said that to ensure a smooth transition, it was important that members from both sides of the House work together.
“The House is making adequate preparations for the dissolution of the Seventh Parliament and I urge everyone to work together to achieve a smooth transition,” he said.
Big events
He recounted some of the main events that occurred in Parliament, such as the briefing by the Minister of the Interior, the presentation of the budget for the first quarter of 2021, as well as the visit of the president, in that sequence.
“During the meeting, a parliamentary delegation paid a commemorative visit to the family of the late Member of Parliament for Mfantseman, Mr. Ekow Hayford, who was killed by armed men, on Monday, October 12.
“That forced the Minister of the Interior to come to the Chamber and announce certain arrangements for the safety of the members,” he said.
Cooperation
The Spokesperson expressed his enthusiasm for the growing cooperation between the Executive and the Legislature.
“Last Tuesday, the Chamber had the privilege of receiving the president of the country to inaugurate four facilities within the framework of the project to improve the physical infrastructure of Parliament and we are very grateful for this action.
“The cooperation between the Executive and the Legislature has been impressive, particularly with respect to increases in our budget allocations,” he said.
Prof. Oquaye pointed out that all the bills that were passed during the Third Session of the Seventh Parliament were mostly “progressive bills” that would benefit the country.
Also, during the session, an intergovernmental task force against money laundering in West Africa paid a courtesy visit to Parliament, he said.
He said the group took the opportunity to call on West African countries to establish and implement measures against money laundering and terrorist financing.
25 bills presented
Reporting on the business conducted by the House during the meeting, Majority Leader Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, in a speech read on his behalf, said that 25 bills were presented to the House and they were forwarded to the appropriate committees for consideration. and report.
He said the House debated, considered and approved 17 of those bills.
“During the period, the Chamber also adopted a series of committee reports on credit facility agreements, financing agreements, loan facility agreements, annual reports, request for tax exemptions, among others.
“Four instruments that were introduced in the Chamber during the second meeting became effective during this meeting and 19 instruments that were presented during this meeting also entered into force,” he said.
He said that six instruments that were introduced, however, did not comply with the 21 days of session established by law so that they could enter into force.
“I am hopeful that barring any mishap, the House can meet after the elections to allow these instruments to come into effect over time,” he said.
The Majority Leader also called for peaceful elections and urged all political parties to desist from politicizing the issue of security in the country.
Necessary reform
The minority leader, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, also called for peaceful, free and fair elections.
“It is important to remind ourselves that we are still Ghanaians and we must go to December 7 as such and leave it as Ghanaians, guaranteeing peace, security and stability in the country,” he said.
He noted that there was a threat to the country’s democracy in the name of monetization and urged all political parties to accept the necessary reforms.
“There is no doubt about the competence and experience of many of the experienced hands that we are losing when it comes to the law-making profession and their dedication and commitment to duty.
“We need to reform our primary process to protect the experience in the House,” he said.
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