Parliament resumes sitting

Page 17, May 27, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo has challenged Members of Parliament (MPs) to draw lessons from recent developments about Parliament and sit back to do self introspection to right the wrongs of the establishment.
“As a House, it behoves us to sit back and critically do self introspection in order to right whatever wrong the establishment might have made by commission or omission”.
In her remarks at the commencement of the Second Meeting of the First Session of the fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic, Mrs Bamford-Addo reminded the MPs that “these developments, you know, have the tendency of eroding the dignity and integrity of legislative establishments worldwide”.
Without explaining what she meant by “recent developments”, the Speaker urged the MPs to exhibit qualities that would endear them to the people who had reposed their confidence in them.
She stated that it was by so doing that Parliament would continue to win the sympathy and support of the people while MPs would also be accorded the needed respect and assistance to enhance their work.
Mrs Bamford-Addo expressed the hope that the MPs had had rest during the recess and now felt more refreshed to continue from where they left off during the previous meeting.
“As I always say, the bond between myself and honourable members continually deepen by day. I really missed the company of honourable members during the recess and greatly itched to meet them in good health”, she said.
In yesterday’s sitting, the proposed formula for the distribution of subsidies to be paid to Licensed District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes for 2009, which was expected to be laid before the House was stepped down.
The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin explained that he had no evidence that new board for the National Health Insurance Authority met to consider the formula before it was brought before the House.
The meeting, which is to last for 10 weeks, is expected to end on Friday, July 31, 2009.