The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has highlighted the need for Ghana’s evolving and hybrid parliamentary democracy to be aligned with the new January, 2024 Standing Orders of Parliament.
According to the Speaker, the current processes and procedures in the House are facing challenges, which have been exposed by the gaps and deficiencies in the old November 2000 Standing Orders.
The Speaker made these comments during the orientation workshop for Members of Parliament and Procedural Staff on the new Standing Orders in Ho.
He emphasized that the old orders have brought to light several challenges which have led to diverse interpretations of procedures and practices, verbal altercations in the House, and even the pronouncement of the Supreme Court regarding the November 2000 Standing Orders.
The new Standing Orders, which came into effect on January 2, 2024, are designed to ensure the effective and efficient performance of Parliament and Parliamentarians. The Speaker emphasized that these orders are deeply rooted in the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana and are a dynamic document that continues to evolve to adapt to society’s ever-changing needs.
The Deputy Majority Leader and MP for Effutu, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, also stressed the importance of the rules book (Standing Orders) for MPs, citing his own experience as an example. He advised his colleagues to take the rules seriously in order to survive and make meaningful contributions on the floor of the chamber.
The Minority Chief Whip and MP for Adaklu, Kwame Governs Agbodza, commended the Speaker for spearheading the revision of the Standing Orders and bringing them into operation. He expressed his belief that the orientation would address members’ concerns and bring them up to speed on the new provisions and the rationale behind them.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Cyril Kwabena Oteng Nsiah, also highlighted some of the new practices and procedures introduced in the new Orders, such as the recital of the National Pledge on the first day of Sitting for each week, and the conduct of a roll call of Members of Parliament at each sitting of the House, at the behest of the Speaker.
He also mentioned that Parliamentary Committees have increased from thirty-one to forty-four to emphasize the new focus and direction of the House, as part of efforts to expand and improve parliamentary oversight of activities of state actors.
The orientation workshop for Members of Parliament and Procedural Staff on the new Standing Orders is a significant step in ensuring that Ghana’s Parliament is equipped to cope with the evolving and changing trends and requirements of the country’s dynamic and hybrid parliamentary democracy.
