MP blames poor policy implementation on Ghanaian work ethics
Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, the Member of Parliament for Bekwai, has said poor work ethics represented a major stumbling block to policy implementation in Ghana.
He said the well-crafted laws should be backed by efficient and accountable implementing agencies to make impacts on governance.
Mr Osei-Owusu was reacting to fears of a contributor at a forum on the Right to Information Bill held in Ho that inefficiency of bureaucrats could impede the implementation of the Bill.
“Passing the law is one thing and making it work is another,” he stated.
Mr Osei-Owusu also slammed the tendency among Ghanaians to make “matters lie”.
He said people must be ready to pass-on the frustrations they met while seeking services and also press to be heard.
“The change in attitudes will not come in one day but we must work for it to come,” he said.
The discussion was the first of the series being organized across the country by the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Constitution, Legal and Parliamentary affairs with support of the World Bank.
Blanket exemptions under the proposed Right to Information Bill and fees to be charged for services were among other concerns raised by participants.
Mr Osei-Owusu also expressed worry about Ghanaians expecting to exact services for free.
“We must accept the principle that services we enjoy attract fees to keep those services running,” he said.
Mr Felix Twumasi Appiah, Chairman of the Joint Committee, said the Bill which was premised on the internationally accepted declaration that the right to information was a basic right of the individual, should make governments more accountable to the people.
Members of the Joint Committee took turns to explain the import of the Bill, procedures for seeking information, exempt information, the appeals process, fees regime and waivers.
While some contributors at the well-attended forum sought to fault organizers for poor publicity to the forum, officials of Parliament maintained all had been done to get to the people and that the exercise was a process which was continuing.
Source: GNA