SOME new Members of Parliament (MPs) have expressed the belief that the sixth Parliament would see improvement in scope and informed debate as well as consensus buildings and compromises.
According to them, the era where Parliament was seen as partisan had given way to bridge building between the majority and minority.
The NDC MP for Chiana-Paga, Mr Abuga Pele, told the Daily Graphic that one of his aspirations in the new Parliament would be to see a review of the formula for the allocation the District Assemblies Common Fund, that would make communities rely on their own efforts before they are rewarded with the fund.
"The present system where communities have to wait or lobby central government for the allocation of resources is dwarfing creativity," Mr Abuga Pele said.
The NPP MP for the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem (KEEA) constituency, Dr Nana Ato Arthur for his part said his first meeting was insigting since he met friends from both sides of the house.
"Although its relatively early, I can foresee exciting and challenging times ahead with both sides forging ahead in national cohesion", Dr Arthur said.
He said even though Parliament was a legislative body, he intended using his position as an MP to developed Elmina through sister-city partnerships.
The PNC MP for Builsa North, Mr Alhassan Azong, who faulted the previous leadership of Parliament for not placing him on an effective committee, did not ruled out lobbying for selection on any of the effective committees.
According to him, the process where MPs were ask to submit curriculum vital (CV) for placement on committees that reflected their expertise and experience was not effective as lobbying have overridden these principles.
"It is committees that makes MPs effective, thus if you are put on a committee that meets once in a year to draw a budget, as in the case of the Judiciary Committee that draws an annual budget for the judiciary, your constituents sees you as ineffective,' Mr Azong said.
He added that his expertise in the area of works and housing, local governance and water and sanitation would beneficial to serve on any of the committees that deals with such matters and not for "monetary purposes".
Mr Azong also task the general public to disabuse their minds from the fact that it is only when their governments were in power that they could benefit form development.
"There is statutory funding for all MPs to access for the development of their constituency and when manage well could bring development to heir local communities and the country as a whole," he said.
Mr Azong was hopeful that the Sixth Parliament would lived up to the expectation of Ghanaians owing to the calibre of elected members, who have so far demonstrated their willingness to rise above partisanship.
Meanwhile, parliament adjourned sitting on Tuesday to deliberate on the formulae for the composition of membership of committees.
The leadership will also consider the for action of parliamentary delegations and other parliamentary groupings and associations.
The Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho adjourned the sitting to allow for the formation of the committees which are vital and integral part of parliamentary proceedings and processes.
With the commencement of the formation, intense lobbying for membership of committees that carry clout and power, such as the Appointment committee, Public Accounts Committee (PAC),finance Committee, Works and Housing.
SOURCE: Della Russel Ocloo, Daily Graphic, Thur, Jan 10, 2013
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