The founding fathers of this beau­tiful country called Ghana, who fought for our independence from the British colonial administra­tion in 1957, will by now be turning in their graves and asking about what is happening to a nation which they fought with their sweat and toils to free the people from their oppres­sors.

Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of blessed memory, first President of Ghana and others who spearheaded this country and positioned it on the international arena, would be dis­appointed about the economic mess that this country has been plunged into by our current leaders.

Operations of Parliament

Law making is considered to be the most important function of Parliament. Under Article 93 (2) of the 1992 Constitution, the legislative power of Ghana has been vested in Parliament and exercised in accor­dance with the 1992 Constitution.

Nobody other than Parliament has the power to pass any measure with the force of law except by or under the authority conferred by an Act of Parliament. The legislative function of Parliament consists of passing bills and scrutinizing statutory instruments and deciding whether to annul them or allow them to take effect by the effluxion of time. Besides, Chapter 13 of the 1992 Constitution various­ly vests the control of public funds (power of public purse) in Parliament.

Mouthpiece of the Electorate

In effect, Parliament is there­fore an important institution in the democratic practice of our country and, therefore held in high esteem by the people. Whatever emanates from Parliament is considered as an important weapon to the administra­tion of this country.

It is therefore, a sacred institution which must be protected and safe­guarded by the players of this noble institution who are the parliamentar­ians. They are the people represen­tatives and, therefore represent the interests and welfare of the people in the august house.

Strictly speaking, the parliamen­tarians, noted as MPs, represent the views and mouthpiece of the people in their constituencies to approve and oversee the revenues and expendi­tures proposed by government aside any other functions.

Walkouts in Parliament

The over 30 million Ghanaian population cannot be in Parliament at the same time and that is the reason why the 1992 Constitution has prescribed a limited number of 275 parliamentarians to the house to represent their constituencies and to participate in all matters and issues relating to the welfare of their constituencies as well as matters that affect their constituents.

It therefore, presupposes that since the MPs were elected by the people to represent their interests, it will be absolutely wrong and suicidal for them to behave in such a selfish manner when it comes to parliamen­tary proceedings such as debates and approval of bills among other func­tions in the house.

Staging walkouts in the midst of parliamentary sittings, are sometimes normal practices in parliament all over the world. It indicates a way of registering a protest and that is ac­cepted in most parliaments across the globe. However, when this is over­done in such a way to affect the lives of the people who put them there, it becomes a huge problem to contain.

Ghanaians Patience Growing Pale

This country is evolving and therefore, the majority of the people are now discerning. The poor man­agement of the economy by people appointed by the government to see to the growth of the economy which has brought about severe hardships among the people, has indeed, served as an eye-opener to the millions of Ghanaians since they cannot make ends meet.

They have therefore, resolved that they would never sit unconcerned and allow the economy to be downgraded in the midst of the vast economic resources at our disposal. They are therefore, drumming home to their representatives in Parliament to do the needful by holding government, especially its appointees, account­able to the economic mismanagement of the country. They are demanding that the non-performing ministers whose inefficiencies have led to the downturn of the economy must be shown the exit without further delay.

General Frustration Among The People

The general frustration among the citizenry has emboldened, tough­ened the people and energized them to voice out their sentiments free­ly without fear or favour on social media platforms. They do not care about emerging consequences what­soever.

Even the little JHS students are abreast of the current economic downturn and are complaining. The hopes of Ghanaians are shattered and the question they keep asking is, who speaks for the millions of the vulnerable in the society?” Some of our parliamentarians are turning the august house into a charade, making it to appear different from what it is supposed to be and that is most unfortunate.

Recent Drama in Parliament

The recent walkout staged by the Majority MPs when it came to the vote of censure against the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, spoke vol­umes of how some of our parliamen­tarians are not showing any serious­ness in the business of the house.

Many Ghanaians including MPs from the Majority side had hitherto, condemned the abysmal performance of the Finance Minister and had called on the President to relieve him of his post. The Majority Caucus led by its leader, Osei-Kyei Mensah Bonsu, had met the President on this partic­ular issue who pleaded with them to allow the Finance Minister to con­clude the on-going negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after which a firm decision would be taken on the matter.

The Speaker of Parliament con­stituted a committee to go into the allegations levelled against the Minister, after which a report was presented to the full house which was debated upon by both the Majority and Minority caucuses.

The Finance Minister was allowed to defend himself through his law­yers at both the committee meeting and also the floor of the house. It therefore, sounded strange when the minority walked out during a secret voting on the case.

Ghanaians Feeling Short-Changed

This is where most Ghanaians are feeling that, they are being short-changed by our parliamentarians by not calling a spade a spade. On the surface, you see the MPs disagreeing when it comes to debates on issues, but when there is the need to take decision on behalf of their constitu­ents, you find them wanting.

The Finance Minister should by now know that he has lost confidence in the majority of the people includ­ing those from his own party. The problems of this country have indeed overwhelmed him and his economic management team and, therefore he should pack his bag and baggage and leave honourably.

Exactly as the Editor of ABC News Gordon Asare-Bediako pointed out re­cently on social media, “this matter should not have come to this level because for 98 Members of Parlia­ment to write and publicly declare that they don’t want you any longer as Finance Minister, he should advise himself”. According to this writer, Mr. Ofori-Atta had allowed himself to be subjected to public ridicule.

President Must Do The Needful

Once there is a clarion call by the majority of Ghanaians to the Pres­ident to reshuffle his ministers, it behoves on him to listen to the voices of the people and take action as early as possible. His adamant posturing, is not in the best interest of his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the way forward to the next election.

Once Parliament has concluded its assignment on the budget, the Pres­ident should take an advantage to prune down the size of government, reshuffle some of his ministers and retire his Finance Minister honour­ably.

The President should take an advantage of the resignation of his Trade and Industry Minister, Allan Kojo Kyerematen and the Agriculture Minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, who have all resigned from his govern­ment to contest for the flagbear­ership position of the NPP in the next general election in 2024 to reshuffle his ministers in order to introduce vibrancy in his administration.

It was Ghanaians who gave the President the mandate to govern this country and, therefore they have every right to make suggestions as to how this country should be governed. It should not be a one-man show.

Contact email/WhatsApp of author

ataani2000@yahoo.com

0277753946/0248933366

By Charles Neequaye