The National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG) has expressed grave concern about happenings in Parliament that it warns do not reflect the beauty of Ghana’s democracy particularly in promoting good local
According to the Association, the fact Parliament has served its course in the fourth republic cannot be downplayed considering how the check and balance on the government agenda.
“However, the recent brouhaha on the approval of the “2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy” has painted a not-so-encouraging picture of Parliament that the Association believes will not endear Assembly Members within our Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), who are established as a replica of Members of Parliament within local governance and decentralization, to the development agenda.”
A statement signed by Hon. Kokro Amankwah, NALAG General Secretary noted that the Local Parliament (Assembly Meetings) take a lot of inspiration from Parliament hence most Parliamentarians have served as Assembly Members in their respective MMDAs and most Assembly Members look forward to serving their Constituents at the level of Members of Parliament.
According to him, the Assembly, headed by the Presiding Member as the speaker, has a lot to learn from Parliament, which places lots of moral responsibilities on Parliament to ensure their activities and engagements within the Chamber is devoid of acts that will not inspire good governance in the Assembly, particularly when the youth in recent times have resorted to contributing to the development agenda at the local level as Assemble Members.
“Our Members of Parliament (MPs) have a responsibility to the nation and this includes working together through consensus building.”
“The two Caucuses of the Republic are so defined to serve the interest of the citizen in a peaceful manner. Even though some activities of Parliamentarians within the chamber could be legal, we believe there is also a moral responsibility of our MPs to communicate the best resolution to the disagreement they hold in the Chamber,” the statement said.
Mr. Amankwah charged members of the House to be mindful of the people they are serving and to not frustrate the development agenda of any government, be it the incumbent or any other.
He warned that any frustration in a bid to stall the development of the nation will have an adverse effect on the country’s Local Authorities – MMDAs.
NALAG called on the Speaker of Parliament to galvanize both the Majority and Minority Caucuses of Parliament towards consensus building to resolve the ongoing impasse on the budget.
Source: Mypublisher24.com