NDC will strengthen Parliament — Veep

Page 13, Thursday, Jan 15, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah

THE Vice- President, Mr John Dramani Mahama has given assurance that the National Democratic Congress (NDC), would strengthen Parliament to enable it play its expected role in the current dispensation.
“Having being a Member of Parliament (MP) for 12 years, I am aware of the numerous constraints of the MPs, which is not enabling them to give off their best,” he said.
Mr Mahama was speaking at the Accra International Conference Centre, when members of the Parliamentary Press Corps paid him a courtesy call.
The courtesy call was to enable members congratulate the Veep for his assumption of office and wish him well in his new position.
He stated that there was the need to improve on the working conditions of MPs and “this is what the NDC government will work towards to make the work of the current crop of MPs easier”.
Touching on the work of the media, Mr Mahama stated that the government had the responsibility of expanding the frontier of free expression in the country.
He gave the assurance that the media would be free to work under the NDC government.
The Vice-President, therefore called on government institutions to feel free to place advert in every paper or radio of their choice despite the political inclination of that paper.
Mr Mahama said although the challenges facing the government were enormous, the NDC government was up to the task in fulfilling on its campaign promises.
The Vice- President stated that the government was currently putting structures to enable it take full control of the economy and called on Ghanaians to have patience since the NDC had been in government for a few working days.
He thanked the members of the Parliamentary Press Corps for their assistance during his days as MP and asked them to continue to render such selfless devotion to ensure the growth of the legislature.
The Dean of the Parliamentary Press Corps, wished the Vice-President well and asked him to continue to be interested in the work of the media.