Amoako-Attah sworn-in as Parliament resumes

Page 12, Oct 20, 2010
Amoako-Attah sworn in
as Parliament resumes

Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah

The newest Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah, was sworn into office as MP for Atiwa when the House resumed sitting yesterday for the Third Meeting of the Second Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
He was elected during a by-election in the Atiwa Constituency in the Eastern Region on August 31, 2010, following the death of the incumbent MP, Mr Kwasi Annor Ankamah.
At exactly 10 am, the Speaker of the House, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo entered the Chamber after the MPs had taken their seats.
After leading the MPs in prayers, she informed the House about the writ of election which had been sent by the Electoral Commission on the by-election declaring Mr Amoako-Attah as the winner.
When she invited the new MP for the brief swearing in ceremony, the Minority responded “hear, hear!” while some Majority MPs were heard saying "it is just a replacement".
Led by the Speaker and assisted by the Clerk of Parliament, Mr Emmanuel Anyimadu, Mr Amoako-Atta swore oaths of allegiance and Member of Parliament after which he was led to his seat while both sides of the House applauded.
Welcoming the new MP, Mrs Bamford-Addo encouraged him to learn the rules and procedures in the House quickly to enable him discharge his duties efficiently.
She informed the MPs about the tight schedule of the meeting and urged them to brace themselves up for the task ahead.
Mrs Bamford-Addo also informed the House about the completion of a three-storey office block which would accommodate the leadership and committee chairmen, and plans to distribute laptops to MPs to enhance their work.
The Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka, for his part announced that the 36 new bills, 12 pending bills, 33 instruments, 38 other papers and 700 questions posed by MPs were expected to engage the attention of the House during the meeting.
In addition, the Economic Policy and Budget Statement of the government for 2011 was also expected to be laid before the House by the second week of November.
He mentioned some of the crucial bills expected to be passed during the meeting as the Petroleum Revenue Management Bill, the Petroleum Exploration and Production Bill and the Freedom of Information Bill.
While welcoming the new MP to the House, Mr Avoka also charged the MPs to be patriotic and committed to enable the House to complete the agenda it had set for itself during the meeting.
For his part, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the nine weeks ahead of the House would bring various challenges and difficulties "and would test our capabilities as law makers and representatives".
He, therefore, urged the MPs to see the challenges as opportunities to prove to Ghanaians "some of whom had become very critical and even cynical that, we can rise to the occasion and discharge our duties to satisfy the national interest".
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu appealed to his colleagues to eschew negative partisanship and be patriotic and diligent during the discussions on two bills on the petroleum industry, bearing in mind that "posterity would not never forgive us should we make any wrong decision on any of these critical matters which otherwise have the potential of contributing to transform our economy in a significant way".
He, therefore, advised his colleagues to be time-conscious, punctual and participate in all activities in the Chamber and committee meetings to ensure a productive meeting.
While welcoming Mr Amoako-Attah to the House, he called for measures to curb the violence that had characterised by-elections of late, explaining that if nothing was done it would mar the beauty of the 2012 general elections.
Both Majority and Minority leaders congratulated the Speaker for being the first female acting President of Ghana when both the President and his vice were away from the country on October 1, 2010.
At yesterday's sitting, the Local Government (Creation of New District Electoral Areas) Instrument, 2010, Unit Committee Regulations, 2010 (C.I 18) and the Energy Efficiency Standards and Labelling (Housing Refrigerating Appliances)(Amendment) Regulations, 2010 (L.I 1970) were laid before the House.