A Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Prof. Ransford Gyampo, has urged MPs to engage in effective dialogues when discussing issues of national interest.
Ahead of the commencement of the second session of the eighth Parliament on January 25, Prof. Gyampo noted that the current Parliament cannot deliver on its mandate if the leadership and members of both caucuses fail to use tact and diplomacy.
Speaking on the AM Show on the JoyNews channel, Monday, he encouraged the lawmakers to adopt best practices from other hung parliaments that have been able to exercise their duties without scuffles.
“A hung parliament presents two-sided options to us; you can make it chaotic, you can make it calm. If it’s [the next session] going to be chaotic, it will be because people will want to flex their muscles.”
“If politicians want to flex their muscles, if majority group wants to assert a certain strength that does not exist, if minority group would want to be intransigent and say ‘we also have the muscles to flex,’ then it’s going to be chaotic,” he hinted.
He told host, Benjamin Akakpo, that in the effort to climb higher the ladder of democratic progression, the MPs should strive to protect the country’s image.
“I would urge both the Majority and Minority groups to appreciate that all over the world and in Africa, Ghana is hailed as a beacon of successful democratic story and so we should live according to the accolade and description that has been given to us.”
“Let the Majority group appreciate the fact that they don’t have the muscle to flex, let the Minority group also appreciate the fact that you have an elected government that has the mandate to govern – you cannot unnecessarily thwart its efforts…let there be a sincere dialogue amongst them,” he appealed.
Proceedings in Parliament on Monday, December 20, 2021, were brought to a halt following the fisticuff among members of the two sides of the House.
The chaos erupted when the First Deputy Speaker allegedly tried to vacate his seat for the Second Deputy Speaker to partake in the ongoing voting exercise.
Following the incident, Parliament adjourned proceedings to January 25, thereby cutting short any attempt to approve or reject the e-levy Bill.
Source : Myjoyonline