Majority leader entreats 6th Parliament to improve image
Dr Benjamin Kumbuor, Majority Leader in Parliament, has entreated members of the Sixth Parliament to work hard to improve the image of the House as a serious law making body.
He said attendance of members resulting in the lack of quorum leading to adjournments, as sometimes reported in the media, was not helpful to parliamentary work as there were lots of work members had to carry out.
Dr Kumbuor said “Such no quorums give the impression that the House is not serious,” and urged members not to see parliament as a stepping stone but a place they agreed with their constituents to deliver on their behalf.
He asked members to always attend parliamentary proceedings though committee work was important.
Dr Kumbuor, who is also the member for Nandom Constituency in the Upper West Region, told the Ghana News Agency on Thursday that Job 600, which is to provide offices for members, was expected to be completed between March and April this year and would ease the problem of members having to keep their documents in their vehicles.
He said there was the need for members to use modern technology such as information and communication technology with well furnished modern library and very competent research assistants with good orientation in the various areas of focus.
Dr Kumbuor also mentioned that members, especially the new entrants, needed to be equipped with Parliamentary Standard Reference on parliamentary proceedings so as to learn and make meaningful contributions.
He noted that the challenge in public life was for new entrants to learn as quickly as they could and be able to maintain the level of standard they met and improve on what needed to be improved.
He, therefore, urged all new members to learn very fast the Standing Orders of Parliament and other requirements to enhance the proper functioning of the House.
Source: GNA