Thursday, December 2, 2010

SANCTION NON-PERFORMING MPS (PAGE 13, NOV 29, 2010)

PARTICIPANTS in a forum to give voice to the voiceless in Ghana’s Constitution Review Process have stressed the need for mechanisms to be put in place to sanction non-performing parliamentarians.
They noted that over the years some members of parliament engaged in absenteeism, hence they did not contribute adequately to debates on the floor of parliament yet they received their salaries and ex gratia awards.
They equally pointed out the need for the MPS to be given a maximum of three terms after which they must resign as MPs.
Such a measure they noted would ensure that they did not become ineffective and complacent.
The forum discussed the executive, legislature, judiciary, decentralisation and local government, chieftaincy, the direct principles of state policy and national elections.
The forum was aimed at, among other objectives, providing a platform for the grassroots, the vulnerable and marginalised sections of the society to share their views on key aspects of the constitution.
It was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) in collaboration with the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF).
Other participants pointed out the need for a review of the constitution to extend the tenure of office of the President from four to six or seven years.
On women representation at the assembly level, they noted that there was the need for more than 50 per cent of the women to be present at the assemblies to ensure that they form an integral part of the decision making process.
A Policy Analyst at the IEA, Dr Michael Ofori-Mensah, stated that “17 years into the operation of the current constitution, serious shortcomings have been identified”.
According to him, for instance, the superimposition of a partisan central government structure on a non-partisan local government system, within the political space in Ghana gave cause for concern and hence a review.
He explained that democracy could be strengthened, if the shortcomings experienced over the last 17 years were addressed by taking into consideration the concerns of the vulnerable and marginalised groups.
Dr Ofori-Mensah intimated that the IEA was currently undertaking research and advocacy on certain provisions of the constitution that in its view required critical examination.
“In our view, the best way to address the concerns of the marginalised groups is to create the opportunity for gender advocates and representatives of vulnerable groups to speak for themselves” he stated.
A Member of the Council of State, Kpan Naa Muhammed Baba Bawa urged the participants to discuss the issues dispassionately devoid of politics.

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